NEW YORK -- Last summer, the Nets were politely rebuffing inquiries about Vince Carter, not ready yet to part with their highest-paid and most impactful player as part of their plan to attract major free agents in 2010.
That plan intersected with the opportunity to move Carter and the $35 million left on his contract Thursday, when New Jersey sent Carter to the defending Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic.
It was the final blow to the core of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and Carter, who led the Nets through some of the best seasons in franchise history. It also made New Jersey a major factor in the 2010 free-agent sweepstakes and signaled to their fans in New Jersey that they're packing it in for the move to Brooklyn. The Nets also had talks with the Spurs and Cavs about Carter.
The Nets cleared more hurdles this week in making their dream of moving to Brooklyn by 2012 a reality. And by moving Carter, they put themselves $17 million in 2010 cap space closer to putting a marquee star -- or two -- in that new playpen.
The Magic? To me, the trade signals that Orlando GM Otis Smith doesn't believe he can keep Hedo Turkoglu, who will be an unrestricted free agent in a couple of weeks. Carter will join a healthy Jameer Nelson in the backcourt, but he's similar to Turkoglu from the standpoint of ball-dominance and big shot-making -- two ingredients that the Magic would've sorely missed had they not hedged their bets by replacing them.
Orlando sent Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee, and Tony Battie to the Nets for Carter and Ryan Anderson. Battie and Alston have contracts that expire after next season, while Lee and Anderson are a wash. So the Nets save $17.3 million from Carter's contract in 2010 and have only three players guaranteed money that season -- Josh Boone, Eduardo Najera, and Keyon Dooling. (They hold team options on Lee, Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, and Sean Williams.)
The Cavs, Spurs, and Magic have struck so far with a win-next-season-at-all-costs strategy. Who's next?
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)
Posted on: June 25, 2009 6:50 pm
Edited on: June 26, 2009 7:10 am
Score: 170
Category: NBA
Comments Add a Comment
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GoSteelers!86 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 21, 2006 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 11:40 pm
Score: 82
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)Haha they changed the article to "some of the best years in franchise history", thanks to your comment. You would figure someone would fact check these articles before they post them.
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Yeeeeesh
Reputation: 0Level: Amateur Since: Jan 4, 2009 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 8:46 pm
Score: 60
This comment has been removed.
Post Deleted by Administrator |
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Dolphinmania09 Level: All-Star Since: Apr 7, 2009 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 2:11 pm
Score: 113
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)Ummmm hello he only played 2 games in the Philly series due to getting hurt granted he was playing at the top of his game before the injury and how can you say he is the only one who stepped up being a Magic fan? How about Gortat in game 6 in Philly playing for the suspended Howard. How about Orlando as a team shooting the lights out and blowing out the Sixers on their home court without Howard and Lee? How about Howard in game 3 making both his free throws with the game on the line eventhough they still lost! How about Turk hitting a game winning 3? Yeah man you're right Lee was the only one who stepped up in the Philly series! Way to not know what you're talking about! |
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PensMetsFins Level: All-Star Since: May 14, 2009 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 1:50 pm
Score: 92
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)It was the final blow to the core of Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson , and Carter, who led the Nets through some of the best seasons in franchise history Wow how do you seriously get paid when so many people in this country are out of work? You report on sports and suck at your job.. first you report Carter helped lead the Nets to back to back finals. Then your weak update states he led them to their best seasons in franchise history...
Since you don't know how to LOOK things up, I'll help out those who want real information... Carter came in the 04-05 season- the Nets finished 8th and got swept by the Heat in the first round 05-06 the Nets finished 3rd (due to division win), lost in semi-finals to heat 4 games to 1 06-07 finished 6th lost in semi's to Cavs 07-08 and 08-09 missed playoffs. Carter was nothing special as a Net. The best seasons in franchise history came BEFORE he got there... he was apart of 1 good Net team of the 5 years he was there. Enjoy him Orlando, the Nets will take Courtney Lee and run. The final blow to the Nets core came when the Nets traded away RJ for Yi Jianlian who is a lousy player and a BUST of a lottery pick |
trajanl121
Reputation: 88Level: All-Star Since: Mar 5, 2008 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 12:35 pm
Score: 62
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)I was just going to say, the core that gave the Nets some of their best years was Kidd, Jefferson and Martin.....
who hires these guys? |
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trajanl121
Reputation: 88 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 5, 2008 |
Posted on: June 28, 2009 12:33 pm
Score: 58
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)was just going to comment on this.... the core that gave NJ its best years was Kidd Jefferson and Martin.
who hires these guys? |
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rockomancr Level: Superstar Since: Sep 3, 2006 |
Posted on: June 27, 2009 9:44 pm
Score: 86
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)Lee stepped up some but the loss of him doesn't make you cringe b/c of how he played his rookie season. It makes me cringe b/c he showed that within the next 2-3 years he has a great chance to be an all-star. He really reminds me of Andre in Philly. |
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titans4volz
Reputation: 75 Level: Pro Since: Apr 23, 2009 |
Posted on: June 27, 2009 10:45 am
Score: 51
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)either the cavs magic or celtics will be bounced from the second round of the playoffs next year and it wont go over well considering the cavs know hve shaq, kg is back from a knee injury, and the magic know have vince carter
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ohiohusky5
Reputation: 35 Level: Rookie Since: Jun 26, 2009 |
Posted on: June 26, 2009 11:36 pm
Score: -12
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)That was supposed to say small forward in a power forward's body.
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noles8604
Reputation: 39Level: Rookie Since: May 27, 2009 |
Posted on: June 26, 2009 2:53 pm
Score: 24
Vinsanity in Orlando (UPDATE)Uhm Ryan Anderson is a natural Power Forward. Not converted or anything. 6'10" 240 lbs of 3 point shooting. And only 21. Could be our version of Robert Horry.
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