ORLANDO -- Vince Carter didn't have to travel very far to shake hands with his new coach or general manager.
He was in town before the trade was even completed.
Carter, the eight-time All-Star, was traded Thursday from the New Jersey Nets to the Orlando Magic, whose practice facilities and offices were only a few miles away from where he was holding one of his summer basketball camps earlier in the day.
Carter grew up in nearby Daytona Beach, where much of his family still lives. He already has a home in Orlando. And he was a regular at Amway Arena watching the Magic through the playoffs.
"This is like a dream come true for me,'' Carter said Thursday at a press conference at the Magic's practice facility. "Playing in my home town is a big deal. It kind of blows my mind.''
Carter never has been past the second round of the playoffs during his career in Toronto and New Jersey, and the thought of joining a contender is expected to revitalize him.
"Every player in the league hopes for an opportunity like this, to get a chance at least once to compete for an NBA championship,'' Carter said. "I've never had a dominating big man to play with before. My job will be to try and make it easier on him, to make plays for him.''
To get Carter and power forward Ryan Anderson from New Jersey, the Magic gave up point guard Rafer Alston, center/forward Tony Battie, and guard Courtney Lee, who showed considerable promise in his rookie season.
Carter, 32, played 80 games last season, averaging 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 36.8 minutes. He has two guaranteed years left on his contract, paying him $16.3 and $17.3 million annually.
The trade for Carter was done in part because the Magic had decided not to re-sign free agent Hedo Turkoglu, who is expected to get a five-year, $50 million contract that would have killed all future roster flexibility.
Carter will make considerably more next season than Turkoglu, but he allows them future flexibility.
Carter should give the Magic even better late-game playmaking ability than Turkoglu did the last two years.
"You can give Vince the ball anywhere on the floor, and he'll create a shot from himself or for someone else,'' said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "We didn't have that before. He's also one of the best at end at fourth-quarter, late-game situations.''
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-25-2009 @ 9:49PM
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...
The main thing I like about this trade is that it DOES give us (the magic) a guy who can get his own show off the dribble. It's also a perfect stop gap with his contract expiring in two years and gives us more of a traditional roster. Now, we need to decide if Lewis will continue at the 4 or slide up to the 3. Either way we still need another big man alongside or in backup of Superman.
Even if our other fans don't see it we are a better team right now.
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6-25-2009 @ 10:35PM
Alex #25 said...
It's A Good Trade & All. But Hedo Turkoglu Is Better Then Vince Carter Shooting Wise.. In My Opinion!
But Good Trade Orlando!
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6-25-2009 @ 11:30PM
bobsellsaz said...
The Magic must be hitting the cooking sherry. This is a TERRIBLE trade. Why trade a clutch player that puts in on the line every night. It also makes no sense to trade Alston. He is a bonified star, and to top it off they trade a guy
with tons of potential in Lee!!
They will be lucky to get out of the first round next year. BONEHEAD TRADE OF THE YEAR!!!!
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6-26-2009 @ 9:53AM
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...
"Why trade a clutch player that puts in on the line every night."
Are you talking about Battie?
I think you might be confused but the Magic didn't trade Hedo in this deal. They traded for Vince so they didn't have to resign Hedo to a long term deal.
6-25-2009 @ 11:38PM
Eric said...
Turk is so inconsistant and think about it, he will be way over paid. This is a great move that gives them that guy who can take it to the basket.
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6-25-2009 @ 11:49PM
rk68 said...
Bobsellsaz, you're totally wrong! Although I also think that Lee has a lot of potential and I hate so see him leave... just as tough to imagine the Magic without Hedo...He was great for us! STILL, Vince Carter is an awesome addition to the team and now with FOUR ALLSTARS (Howard-Lewis-Nelson-Carter), I GUARANTEE that the Magic will make it at least to the Eastern Conference Finals next season. In my opinion we are now even stronger than last year! GO MAGIC!!!
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6-26-2009 @ 12:00AM
PRnJeZus16 said...
I AM a nets fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! huge nets fan. NOw here we go again We had Richard jefferson, jason kidd, and vince carter 2 years ago right. Nets a very good team. Now ready 4 this i love the jason kidd deal i do. We got Devin Harris in return. Hated the Jefferson deal, we got no one. AND NOW THIS DEAL! Vince carter is the face of this Franchise, U cant trade him, now the nets are nothing, unless devin Harris becomes an elite allstar which he will. But in return i believe we got Rafer alston uhhh yea he's another point guard no use for him. Even though i like him yess he is very good, but no use 4 him. Courtney Lee, yes alot of potential to be an all-star, i like him being an allstar for this team. And now u have tonny battie. He's uhh well i dnt really know about him. OK BUT LEMME GET TO THE POINT, THIS TRADE WAS VERY DUMB!, NETS COULD'VE DONE BETTER TRADING VINCE.
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6-26-2009 @ 12:16AM
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...
You are thinking with your heart not your head. Think about the big picture. Now, you have Battie & Alston's contracts on the books for only one more year as they both expire after next year. You can trade for a guy or free up tons of cap space a year earlier than Carter would have allowed for a run at the Lebron sweepstakes or one of the other big time FA's after next season which is the biggest FA class in NBA history. On top of all that you got a guy in Courtney Lee (when you could have only netted JJ Reddick instead) who can be alongside Harris in the back-court for the next 10 years. I believe you guys go Yi Jian-Li in the Jefferson trade and with drafting Terrence Williams you have a starting five as follows:
PG - Devin Harris
SG - Courtney Lee
SF - Yi Jian Li
PF - Terrence WIlliams
C - Brook Lopez
Not only that but you also have the starting backcourt of the Eastern Conference NBA Finals representitive in Lee & Alston.
You have a great young core of players to build around and tons of cap space for next summer's big FA period. The Kidd/Carter/Jefferson era is officially over.
6-26-2009 @ 12:04AM
imshortyk said...
People seem to be forgetting that Vince is only, what, a year or two older than Kobe? The dude's got plenty of basketball left in him, and even when he's 40 he'll still be better than half of the players in the NBA. Give me a break, people. This was an awesome trade. Not only do we almost guarantee cap space and dominance in the East next year, we have a player that will lessen the pain of Turkglu leaving. But just like Allaistar said, we NEED a TRUE PF to help Dwight under the basket. I was hoping for Carlos Boozer, but I dunno if that can happen now . . .
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6-26-2009 @ 12:08AM
PRnJeZus16 said...
ok 1st of all vince carter is not 40. Magic now have a great starting 5. Nets dnt have no 1 have 2 point guards in ALL_STAR DEVIN HARRIS and RAFER ALSTON! alston what are the nets gonna do with him, hmmmmmmmm. HORRIBLE TRADE 4 THE NETS, AWSOME!!!! TRADE 4 the magic
6-26-2009 @ 12:35AM
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...
Yeah we won't be able to get someone with the contract of a Boozer just yet. That will hopefully be Bosh after the Vince Carter contract expires. Bosh has said h wants to play alongside Howard. But, let's talk about this year.
When I look at the available Free Agent PF type of players that could fit in with our team that wouldn't be all that expensive and just want a title a few come to mind: (assuming the status of these players contracts hasn't changed)
Brandon Bass PF DAL
Chris Andersen PF/C DEN
Antonio McDyess PF DET
Rasheed Wallace PF DET
Hakim Warrick PF MEM (Restricted)
Charlie Villanueva PF MIL (Restricted)
David Lee PF NYK (Restricted)
Al Harrington PF NYK (Player Option)
Chris Wilcox PF NYK
Louis Amundson PF PHO (Restricted & Team Option)
Channing Frye POR (Restricted)
Drew Gooden PF SAS
Shaun Marion PF TOR (Doesn't really fill the need but plays the perfect hybrid 3/4 for our system)
I would also like to the Magic make it a priority to re-sign Gortat and either Anthony Johnson or Tyrron Lue (preferably AJ) to back up Jameer Nelson & Dwight Howard next season.
Out of all the players I mentioned perhaps the two best and most realistic options (looking for a title, comfortable being a role player, good rebounder and can shoot good percentages) would be either Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess. I would love to see the Magic give one of those guys a veterans exception type of deals like Pietrus got last year (even though they can't give another exception deal).
Thats my hopes and analysis for our team.
6-26-2009 @ 12:06AM
strapman said...
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This trade reminds me of the Sun's trading for Shaq. We all know how well that worked out.
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6-26-2009 @ 12:19AM
Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...
Different situation. Hedo opted out of the final year and signing him to a 5 year 50 MIL deal would have handcuffed the Magic. With a healthy Nelson there is no need for Alston on the team and Battie was little more than a locker room type of player.
VInce Carter is a more diverse player and a better player than Hedo. The Magic want to win and they made the move. I applaud them for that. If it doesn't work then it doesn't work but they needed to add another Hedo type and the big difference is Vince can get his own shot at any time where as Hedo was very inconsistent.
6-26-2009 @ 12:13AM
imshortyk said...
Pretty sure I said "WHEN he is 40" but okay . .
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6-26-2009 @ 12:16AM
PRnJeZus16 said...
oh srry i misread srry about that
6-26-2009 @ 12:31AM
DM said...
This is what Orlando needed in the finals. A veteran player, not to mention a clutch player. Vince is way better than Hedo all around. Think of this, If it was Vince on the receiving end of that alley-oop in Game 2, not C. Lee. who knows?
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6-26-2009 @ 12:35AM
Kyle said...
Like the trade, Turk is asking way too much and too long of a contract. I’m looking for the Magic to go after Rasheed Wallace for vet min and another big.
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6-26-2009 @ 3:36AM
spensley705 said...
did vince carter really say "DOMINATING" big man??? mabey he was watching another NBA finals than I was!!! Dominating??? not so much, mabey in a few years. Your whole team has changed, lets see how long it takes for you to "DOMINATE" anything in the eastern div. let alone the NBA, especially since the outlook is good for an entire return of the Lakers. teach your dominating big man to shoot better than .594 f/t. and something better than his boring slam dunks, which is his only weapon... GO LAKERS!!!
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6-26-2009 @ 10:57AM
imshortyk said...
It's interesting how one series automatically makes Dwight not dominating . . . he's only the Double/Double King, the leader in rebounds and blocks . . again . . the Magic's top scorer and he's ever improving his inside game and free throws (evidence of that through the playoffs). Again, he's only 24, his numbers are better than Shaq's at that age, and he took his team ALL the way. Silly, very silly post, Spens.
6-26-2009 @ 3:56AM
spensley705 said...
rk68, btw, do you remember what king (not) james said about his team this last season??? that little guarantee he made??? don't be so stupid, teach your big man to shoot the ball, not just defend it, or is that why you brought in carter? another slam dunk specialist...now you have two... yep, yur probably right, a guaranteed eastern conf. finals for sure! NOT!!!
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