Magic Don't Want Vince Carter Fitting In

Posted Sep 26, 2009 1:55PM By Tim Povtak (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Magic, Nets

ORLANDO -- Ever since he was traded to the Orlando Magic almost three months ago, Vince Carter has said all the right things. He's talked endlessly about fitting in with a team that reached the NBA Finals last season, about altering his game to fit with center Dwight Howard, and about being happy to change the way he has played his entire career.

On Friday, coach Stan Van Gundy finally asked him to stop.

He doesn't want Carter fitting in. He wants him standing out.

"I don't want him stepping on the court thinking about fitting in. He can fit in, in the locker room. We didn't bring him here to be a guy who is just moving the ball,'' Van Gundy said. "We want him attacking. I want the guy who has been so good all these years. I want all his greatness."

Carter chuckled Friday when told about Van Gundy's remarks. He is a seven-time All-Star with a career scoring average of 23.5 points. The Magic gave up promising Courtney Lee, veteran Tony Battie and point guard Rafer Alston to get him. The Magic lost Hedo Turkoglu to free agency this summer, and they want Carter to more than replace him.

The Magic, like a majority of NBA teams, open training camp this Tuesday.

"Yes, he (Van Gundy) has told me, he wants the guy who beat him in the past, the guy who scored 42 on him," Carter said Friday. "He said he wants it each and every night. I told him I can still be that guy. But I also said I didn't care if I averaged 23-25 points a game. I want to average 55-60 wins a season."

Carter, 32, hasn't stopped smiling about being traded to Orlando. He grew up in nearby Daytona Beach. He has spent his offseason in Orlando for the last five years. He never has played with a center like Howard. And he never has been past the second round of the playoffs.

"The timing is perfect for me," Carter said. "I've wanted this opportunity since I came into the league. In my 11 years, I've seen it all, done it all, been through it all. My game has matured. Now I want to win it all."

The Nets traded Carter as part of their rebuilding efforts and desire to create massive salary cap room for next summer. He has two years remaining on his contract, paying him $16 million this season and $17 million next. The Magic want to win the NBA title this season. The biggest issue is whether the loss of Turkoglu and the addition of Carter will change the delicate but very successful team chemistry.

Carter has been a regular this summer at the Magic's training facility, working the past few weeks with almost the entire roster of players. He went to Philadelphia and point guard Jameer Nelson's home for a week last month with most of the team for a bonding session.

Van Gundy already has changed his playbook for this season to include a few of the plays that Carter was successful with during his years in Toronto and New Jersey. Howard remains the centerpiece of the franchise, but Carter is expected to be his co-star this season.

"I think I proved last year that I still got it," Carter said. "I can be what they want me to be. I'm just so excited to be here. I'll do anything. I'm a team guy, and we'll see where that goes."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-26-2009 @ 3:03PM

Giles said...

Talk is always cheap. And summer, when you can`t do anthing BUT talk is the best time for it. Carter will have a hard time being as good as he used to be, partly because of age, partly different team context, but SVG is right, the Magic need him as close to as good as he was as is reasonably possible. And we`ll see if Carter really can still do it or not. And yes, of course, the Magic wouldn`t have considered the trade if they hadn`t hoped it would affect team chemistry. They hope it will make them better, for a little while, and that they`ll have enough time to bring in another Courtney Lee type next summer, and let him mature a bit. We`ll see if Carter can last that long. That will probably hinge on injury. If he stays healthy, he and the Magic should have a chance. Lee will be a solid, if unspectacular, complement to Harris, which is all they need in the backcourt, but now the Nets have to have their front court step up, by more than just a tiny bit of improvement which can be expected from Brook Lopez. Not having Lewis the first 7 games will give new guys more playing time, undercutting front court leadership already undercut by Turk going to Carter`s original nba home, Toronto. Baptism by fire. 6 or 7 wins would be fine, 5 only the coach maybe would be worried, but 4 even the fans might be a bit worried. The tone for the whole season might be set those first 7 games, without the best remaining forward the team has. Carter talking points vs. wins misses the point. Magic need him to play healthy on both ends of the court, and assertively, on both ends of the court. The Magic don`t want him on the team to collect a retirement pension, on either end of the court. He has to excell on both ends, not be passive, go along to get along, on either end.

9-28-2009 @ 4:59PM

pemfred said...

Wow, what a huge mistake by the Magic front office.

Giving up youth (Courtney Lee), Giving up Size (Tony Battie), Giving up thier best play maker (Hedo Turkoglu) who is also 4 inches taller than Vince Carter and plays the same position, and giving up a quality, experienced point guard who took you to the finals with only half a season with the team (Rafer Alston) for an aging, short small forward who has never helped any of his teams win.

4 good quality team players for 1 aging dunker.

Not a good deal for the Magic.

Big, Big Mistake!!!

9-26-2009 @ 3:28PM

Hi Dom! said...

It will be like when Garnett or Allen went to Boston the first year. They had the hunger for a championship. So will Carter. He know's what he can do. He knows the Magic are strong in all areas. He will deliver. The Magic have to offer creative way's for the team to move into champion mode. Something more then pick and rolls. Howard has to improve, shooting wise. to make Carter more potent. Bass will make it possible for Dwight to spend more time playing offense. Lewis will help Dwight and Carter give defenses fits, who will they double team? Jameer will help the other three by distributing the ball, and creating for himself. The bench will be a monster, for the best teams.

9-26-2009 @ 6:34PM

imshortyk said...

Honestly, when you look at it, the Magic are quite possibly the best team in the league beside the Lakers. And it makes sense, considering both teams were in the Finals haha. But, looking at their starting line up (every single player except ONE being an All-star? Uhhh), and the depth of their bench, this should be an even better team than last year. Of course it's all speculation, but if SVG plans and prepares his team like he always does, this team'll be the creme de-la creme in the NBA.

9-26-2009 @ 6:47PM

Lakergregg said...

Prediction...By the all-star break Howard will be talking smack about Van Gundy AGAIN, and his co-star Carter will be right there with him saying he has Dwight's back.
Magic took a step back when they traded for Carter, he's not a winner, just like his cousin and former Magic messiah Tracy McGrady.
Magic won't even make Conference Finals.
Lakers and Celtics Finals...Lakers in 6

9-26-2009 @ 7:51PM

I think, despite improvement by San Antonio, probably putting them past Denver, most folks would be shocked if the Lakers, despite not addressing their point guard problem overtly, would fall short of getting back to the championship round, or if the East were not a three team race, basically, with maybe Cleveland, Orlando, and Boston, all in the East final four. I doubt Cleveland has finished trading, so if they do make another deal, we`ll see whether it pushes them down or solidifies them as the faves in the East. I think maybe the Lakers are possibly the team to beat at the moment, but I think maybe Cleveland will make at least one more trade trying to beat them. I don`t think Ferry believes two starting point guards is enough size defensively. Not against Bryant, Carter, or Allen. Though Bryant is the best of those, and the most worrisome therefore if they can get that far. I also think the Cleveland centers are old, and even if they hold up another year, the power forwards are only adequate/mediore (not counting James, who can play there, too), so if they centers prove too old, or the back up, Ilgauskas, is dealt off, Varajao may have to play center, and without him, their power forwards become suspect and weak (not counting James). Obviously, the Magic looked at those 40, 8, 8 games by James, and felt they need a stronger body at small forward, so signed Bass, who is about the same size as James, not as quick, not a skilled passer like James. I think Patrick Ewing will have SVG`s back. I don`t think Howard feels he has outgrown respecting Mr. Ewing yet. But if he does mouth off, I expect Mr. Ewing will set him straight. Never won a championship, but a solid player in his day, served under a couple solid coaches in Thompson and Riley, and they in turn served under some solid coaches, Auerbach, Sharman and Rupp. Kentucky was all white, regardless what the Baron wanted, but it played quality basketball.

9-26-2009 @ 10:59PM

melissa said...

Magic will be worst than last year. They should have kept Lee. Carter is on the down side. Lee will only get better. Carter has a tough time with team Chemistry. They will win 51 games if they are lucky. See ya....And Watch!!!!

9-26-2009 @ 11:16PM

I have a friend that lives down in Charlotte and she is close friends with a certain somebody. She told me the night of the Hall of Fame induction, Jordan was over heard asking Pippin if he could still play an 82 game season. Pippin laughed and before he could answer, Rodman said with the Bobcats him and Pippin could play a whole season and make the playoffs. People laughed and Jordan got real serious and said that means I will have to come out of retirement too and play 82 games and make the play-offs and win a 7th championship. I heard this will go down sometime in October. Just wait....I will keep everyone updated.

9-26-2009 @ 11:59PM

I`m afraid the 7th championship mention is a dead give away they were only joking, Melissa. If they had stuck with just making the playoffs, they might have just been engaging in wistful thinking. They might accomplish more on the taxi squad than whatever trio the team will actually have, but they know their is no way the team will make the playoffs with them unless it would have without them. But adding Murray, which I didn`t expect, will help, even though they already had small guys. There will be times Murray and Bell will both be on the wings. The BobCats have decent guys in the 6 1/2 foot range, it is between that and 7 feet they lack folks. And yes, the Magic will have to adjust to all the changes, and will miss Turk`s leadership. Lee, if they get lucky next draft, they can manage without. They still have Pietrus, it isn`t just Reddick and Carter at wing guard. Pietrus can play. I wouldn`t be surprised if Jordan, despite his reported 45 million a year, is bored to death. That much may actually be serious. Fraid I probably can`t help him there, though. I don`t have 45 thousand much less 45 million a year. He could hire me if he felt like it maybe, can`t imagine for what, though summers up there might be nice, but I couldn`t begin to suggest a hobby for him he hasn`t thought of. Maybe Jordan should be a stand up comic in Myrtle Creek, South Cackalacky! Adding Rod and Pip to the BobCats organization, as non athletes, might be a good idea though.

9-27-2009 @ 11:01AM

roberto said...

Sorry but I disagree .
The Magic have improved tremendously with Carter over Turk. Yes , Lee will be a good player but if you want to win it all this season, it takes some gutsy moves on the roster and Otis made them.
Lets also not forget that the Magic have 2 wild cards in their pocket 2 trade exception total ling close to 8 million and Gortat a center that any team would want.
That puts them in a position to pick up any one they like in a trade if they need extra firepower in their lineup

9-27-2009 @ 8:01PM

willis.cash said...

yo my b put it like this tha magic need him if they r so nice y they didnt win tha playoffs like come on thats y ur b in tha club lookin like a dirty bum they need him and all ways will

9-27-2009 @ 9:38PM

burt said...

yeah, but will he be able to fit in?

9-28-2009 @ 6:46PM

I don`t blame the Magic for losing Turk. He left as a free agent. You can`t always keep folks you want to keep. Gortat is young, and could be an improvement eventually defensively against taller forwards like Garnett. Bass is young, and could be an improvement eventually defensively, against shorter, but stockier, forwards, like James. The Magic will hope Lewis can learn to step up, and become the team leader Turk was by playoff time. Except for that lack of passing/leadership, Lewis is a fairly similar athlete to Turk, so maybe he can acquire that in the course of the season. But there is no doubt they`ll miss the veteran Turk. As for Howard wanting to be spoon fed on offense instead of moving his own feet to get open for passes, the Lakers have the same problem with Bynum, except Howard plays D and rebounds, he doesn`t JUST call for the ball, he only whines about offense, he WORKS on defense and on the boards.