Willham
July 20th, 2004, 09:13 PM
Canada's only NBA team is the subject of mega-trade rumors. There are reports Toronto Raptors' superstar Vince Carter could be headed to Dallas.
The biggest star to play for the Raptors since the team made its Toronto debut back in 1998, Carter has reportedly been unhappy with team management for months.
According to a report in The Toronto Star on Wednesday, Carter may finally get the escape he craves, in a three-team deal between the Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks.
Citing a league source, the paper reports the deal could see Vince Carter going to Dallas; Antoine Walker going from the lone star state to New York; and at least two Knicks heading for Toronto.
The report comes one day after The New York Daily News suggested Carter could be part of a four-team deal that added the Golden State Warriors to the card.
Both rumors managed to overwhelm the team's official announcement Wednesday afternoon, that free-agent point guard Rafer Alston will be back with the team -- on a six-year contract worth up to $6 million US.
The instantly recognizable face of the Toronto's NBA team, Carter's departure would be bittersweet for Raptors fans.
Throughout his time in purple-and-white, fans have been torn between admiration for the superstar who grabbed rookie of the year honors, a slam-dunk championship and name recognition throughout the league and the prima donna whose tempestuous relationships with teammates and management seemed, at times, to be interrupted only by injury.
How far Carter's star has fallen is being measured not in the fact he is again rumoured to be on the trading block, but rather that the 27-year-old, four-time NBA All Star appears to be a bargain.
A supposedly marquee player, rumours Toronto could be exchanging him for a couple of middling Knickerbockers -- perhaps power forward Kurt Thomas and veteran centre Dikembe Mutombo -- suggests otherwise.
Silent since the Raptors failed to make the playoffs for the second-straight year last season, Carter has reportedly been unhappy with the team owners -- for leaving him out of the decision to hire new general manager Rob Babcock.
The biggest star to play for the Raptors since the team made its Toronto debut back in 1998, Carter has reportedly been unhappy with team management for months.
According to a report in The Toronto Star on Wednesday, Carter may finally get the escape he craves, in a three-team deal between the Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks.
Citing a league source, the paper reports the deal could see Vince Carter going to Dallas; Antoine Walker going from the lone star state to New York; and at least two Knicks heading for Toronto.
The report comes one day after The New York Daily News suggested Carter could be part of a four-team deal that added the Golden State Warriors to the card.
Both rumors managed to overwhelm the team's official announcement Wednesday afternoon, that free-agent point guard Rafer Alston will be back with the team -- on a six-year contract worth up to $6 million US.
The instantly recognizable face of the Toronto's NBA team, Carter's departure would be bittersweet for Raptors fans.
Throughout his time in purple-and-white, fans have been torn between admiration for the superstar who grabbed rookie of the year honors, a slam-dunk championship and name recognition throughout the league and the prima donna whose tempestuous relationships with teammates and management seemed, at times, to be interrupted only by injury.
How far Carter's star has fallen is being measured not in the fact he is again rumoured to be on the trading block, but rather that the 27-year-old, four-time NBA All Star appears to be a bargain.
A supposedly marquee player, rumours Toronto could be exchanging him for a couple of middling Knickerbockers -- perhaps power forward Kurt Thomas and veteran centre Dikembe Mutombo -- suggests otherwise.
Silent since the Raptors failed to make the playoffs for the second-straight year last season, Carter has reportedly been unhappy with the team owners -- for leaving him out of the decision to hire new general manager Rob Babcock.