Carter's silence fans flames
TORONTO -- Vince Carter, his T-shirt bearing the message Insane in the Lane,
was the picture of serenity when he took time from his youth basketball camp
in Toronto yesterday to speak briefly with reporters about his unsettled
future with the Toronto Raptors.
In the end, the 27-year-old National Basketball Association all-star had
little to say about his status with the Raptors. But nor did Carter express
any show of support for the new basketball regime in Toronto, headed by
general manager Rob Babcock, which in itself speaks volumes about his
troubled frame of mind.
"I'm not going to go there," Carter answered with a smile when asked whether
he wants to return next season as a member of the Raptors.
Carter's future with the only NBA club for which he has played has been the
scope of plenty of conjecture and speculation since the end of last season,
when the Raptors missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season with
a 33-49 record.
There have been reports -- none of them attributed directly to Carter -- that
he remains miffed at the organization after it all but ignored his desire that
former NBA great Julius (Dr. J) Erving be hired as the general manager to
replace Glen Grunwald, who was fired in April.
Instead, the Raptors chose to give the job to Babcock, a relatively unknown
executive plucked from the front office of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
There have been additional reports based on comments from an auto dealer
friend who attended Carter's wedding this month in Florida that Carter would
only return to the Raptors if Richard Peddie and a couple of other front
office aides were fired. Peddie is the president and chief executive officer
of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Raptors.
Last week, Carter was reported to be the focal point of a three-way deal
involving the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks that would see Carter end
up with the Mavericks. The deal, which the Raptors denied was being discussed,
hasn't materialized.
The Globe and Mail reported on Saturday that Carter, according to an
unidentified source, will return to the Raptors for his seventh season only as
a last resort.
In Toronto yesterday for the first time in several weeks to mark the beginning
of his Vince Carter Youth Basketball Academy, Carter was afforded the
opportunity to express his feelings for the record. Instead, with his
continued silence, he only fanned the flames.
"I haven't said a word," said Carter, who stands to earn about $12-million
(U.S.) next season.
"I'm not going to say a word. I'm not going to say nothing. I'm just going to
worry about this camp right now."
"In due time, I'm definitely going to fill everybody in -- when it's time,
Carter said."
Carter said he's not about to get drawn into any "bashing" against his
employer. He agreed it was a bit out of character for other people, even
unidentified ones, to be seen talking on his behalf.
"Especially when they're not telling the truth," he said. "I'll just leave it
at that. Other than that, I don't have anything to say right now. But I
promise there will be a time, don't worry."
Right now, Carter said, he wants to focus on his week-long youth camp, an
event he skipped last summer when he accepted an invitation to play for the
United States at an Olympic qualification event in Puerto Rico. He said he
does not even know whether he will plan to meet with Babcock to discuss his
status during his stay in Toronto.
"I don't know," Carter said. "I'm not worried about Raptors, the organization
, nothing like that. I'll let my agent handle that as of right now.
"I don't want to come in here and worry about that and not focus here, because
last year I wasn't here. I think it's time to make a mark for them right now
and just bring this camp to the level it was."
Babcock has said his preference is that Carter, Toronto's star asset, whose
average of 22.5 points a game was seventh in the NBA last season, remain a
Raptor. He said he hopes he can meet soon with Carter to discuss the future.
"I think it would be good to get together with him, absolutely," Babcock said.
"My feeling is that as soon as he's ready to talk, he'll be ready to talk.
"My preference is to keep him here, that's what I'd like to do. I've said that
over and over. He's a integral part of this basketball team and a great talent
, and I'd love to see him here. I think he'd fit great with what we're trying
to do."
Babcock is also hoping that restricted free agent Morris Peterson, who has
been extended a three-year, $15-million (U.S.) offer by the New Orleans
Hornets, will remain a Raptor.
Toronto has until the end of the month to match the offer, and Babcock said
he intends to recommend that the club's board of directors do so.
"We think he's a very valuable asset to our basketball team and we want him
here," Babcock said. "But it's not our decision to make on this. This is a
financial decision to be made by the board."
看來Babcock蠻有誠意要留VC和Mo-Pete喔
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