« Underrated Brevin Knight comes up big | Main | Bobcats should play to win »
March 25, 2007
Carter still stinging from jab by Jordan?
Vince Carter was pretty chilly Saturday night, when I asked him how he’d react if Michael Jordan recruits him in free agency this summer. "I doubt that he would," Carter replied, and you could almost see his breath for the frigid tone. Here’s the back story: In Carter’s second NBA season, (he was a Toronto Raptor back then), Jordan was asked what he thought of the new Jordans, i.e. Kobe Bryant and Carter. Jordan indicated to the Chicago Sun-Times that Carter is a great scorer "but Vince doesn't play defense." Jordan can be pretty rough on players, particularly those who don’t do enough defensively. Now overseeing the Bobcats’ basketball operation, Jordan recently said they’re still searching for a position rookie Adam Morrison can guard. Back then, Carter feigned disinterest in Jordan’s critique, saying, "Doesn't bother me at all. Everybody has their own opinion about everybody. So be it." Yeah, right. It was clear from his remark Saturday that Carter is still wounded by Jordan’s shot. So, if Carter does opt out of his Nets contract, and the Bobcats are interested in Carter, it will be interesting to see if these two ex-Tar Heels can smooth over this old friction.
Posted by rbonnell on March 25, 2007 at 03:24 PM | Permalink
Comments
While he still is--and probably always will be--a great scorer, I don't know if I really think Carter is the guy for this team. I've never felt great about his leadership, and team success hasn't exactly nipped at the Heels of his Superman cape. Picked up by the Nets to get them over the hump in '04, they instead got swept in the 1st round, not reaching the 2nd for the first time in 3 years. Going back further, though it was an impressive feat to reach the playoffs with the Raptors, VC never got them past the 2nd round. While Carter would provide a desperately needed go-to guy and some scoring, he hasn't always carried the attitude that the Bobcats have shown since their inception in going out and playing hard every night. For this team, we need more than highlight dunks and a semi-consistent (37.5% career from 3) jumper.
On another note, ya'll should do a comparison between the first-year stats of Walter Herrmann to those of Andres Nocioni and Manu Ginobili. Yes, all three have unique playing styles, but they all faced a similar adjustment period to the NBA. I was interested to read on bobcatsbasketball.com that Walter had never so much as visited the US before this summer, so in addition to adjusting to the NBA's game, he was dealing with the culture shock of coming to America as well. It wasn't long ago people were talking about him as a wasted roster spot, but with the way he's playing lately, it's possible we may end up in the same situation as the Spurs and Bulls: a low-risk foreign import investment turns out to be a quality contributor, and I don't think it'd be a stretch to say that Nocioni and Ginobili are top 100 players in the League now. Maybe, just maybe--if he continues to show improvement at this pace--Herrmann could be up there with his countrymen.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Mar 25, 2007 10:58:48 PM
If this is true it's even more reason to stay away from a prima dona like Carter ths off season.
Like $15+ mill a season wasn't enough reason already!!
Posted by: Slam | Mar 26, 2007 7:54:08 AM
Well look at it this way, Carter wants to go to Magic because of his mansion. I heard rumours that he'd also like to return to Toronto because of the fans, even though most of them hate him right now. Bobcats need fresh legs, they do not need Carter, they need Oden or Durant and...well...good look on that.
Posted by: Diamonds | Mar 26, 2007 8:33:41 AM
Carter has 20 million dollar athleticism, a 2 cent heart, and a 10 cent brain.
After watching him dog it in Toronto, and then demand a trade - we up here all know what kind of character he has.
He has zero toughness - can't play through pain, goes down like he is shot everytime he is bumped, has no work ethic and relies soley on his freakish athletisim, and is the worst possible person to be put in a leadership role.
Bottom line - he is a prima dona and the best example of the spoiled athlete resting on his laurels. Chartlotte would be better off paying much less (than the overpaid $15M he gets) for someone who is willing to put in the proper effort.
Rence
Posted by: Rence | Mar 26, 2007 11:52:07 AM
It's not just his lack of toughness that is the problem, but he has flashes of unclassiness. I saw the final bout of New Jersey and Toronto, and he mocked the Tornoto fans of chanting Chris Bosh as their MVP. That caps off on what a coward Carter is and not accepting that being a hard worker is what makes an MVP.
Posted by: Anthony | Mar 26, 2007 12:18:49 PM
I hope Vince leave NJN because the city does not cheer for none of the players. This is the worst arena in the NBA.
I will follow Vince Carter for the rest of his carrer. I am a fan for life.
Posted by: mildred | Mar 26, 2007 12:36:56 PM
Please toronto fans get off of Vince's Back. Vince has been nothing but spectacular overall here. He has led this team in scoring for the last two years. He has broken the team top scoring record. His passing has beeen unbelivable which has led to him having more assissts and rebounds. This guy is a hall of famer. He is spectacular.
Posted by: John S. | Mar 26, 2007 12:43:00 PM
Charlotte should sign Vince if they can get him for a reasonable contract (say 3-yrs at $15 million per).
That being said, Michael Jordan is a terrible GM and the franchise is in big trouble if he's calling the shots! Look at his history:
1) Trades Rip Hamilton to Detroit for Jerry Stackhouse (awful trade)
2) Wasted the #1 pick in the draft on Kwame Brown.
3) Drafts Adam Morrison, who looks like an bust ... awful shooting percentage and doesn't have the footspeed to play defense.
Posted by: Ivan | Mar 26, 2007 12:54:39 PM
I remember Jordan's comment and Carter's reaction. I think Carter said he would work to prove him wrong. I am still waiting to see Carter work to prove him wrong. Carter no doubt has great offensive ability but he has no desire to work in the off season and become a better player overall especially on the defensive end. Bryant is a better overall player than Carter and he plays hard every game. Kobe hates to lose as did Jordan unlike Carter who you can see smiling on the court even when his team is getting killed.
Posted by: Dave | Mar 26, 2007 1:28:59 PM
Tell Vince to grow the hell up and stop being so damned sensitive! What part of what Jordan said was untrue? If Vince didn't like what he said then he should attempt to play some form of "D" to shut Jordan up. He's had what 7 or 8 years to quiet "the Man" and he still hasn't done it. If was so hurt or cared so much then the alleged competitor in him would at least have try and play "D".
Posted by: Ray | Mar 26, 2007 2:03:33 PM
Damn, you people are certainly reading a lot into "I doubt he would". All vince was saying is that he doubts Jordan would pursue him that hard, and he's probably right. But i'll say this, if Jordan doesn't pursue Carter he's gonna add to his growing list of post-retirement screwups with the nba.
Forget what idiot raptor fans are telling you (they're idiots after all) the guy went as far with that team as anyone could go. And when your 2nd best player is antonio davis, that's not very far. The guy who mentioned how he was picked up by the nets to "get them over the hump only to be swept in th 1st rd by the heat" neglected to mention that the hump wasn't to make them a contender, it was to stop the freefall they were in to becoming a league bottomfeeder. Vince nearly singlehandedly carried that team to the playoffs which is impressive considering they were battling for lottery position before he got there.The guy is still a great player, and is exactly the type of closer the Bobcats need.
Posted by: Donald | Mar 26, 2007 3:12:57 PM
carter was not turned off by mj's remarks about his (no) defense.the real turn off was when mj told reporters after the game bet. toronto and washington that ' he (mj) knew he had carter when he asked for his tel.no. in the halftime of that game'.up until then , vc was terribly outplaying mj. washington rallied in the 2nd half to beat toronto.
jordan should have not told the reporters that conversation 'coz it's bet. the 2 of them and has got nothing to do with the game. as it turned out, not to mj !.
Posted by: coach | Mar 26, 2007 4:12:33 PM
All of this talk about the B-Cats not needing Vince, but why would Vince want to be a Bobcat? He did dog it with the dinos but he's proven that he's still one of the best. He doesn't need max money so it's realistic to believe that he will go where he wants to not where he needs to. I doubt that Charlotte is on his wishlist. No offense to the city. Charlotte is beautiful but it's no Orlando. Plus he would be foolish to play for Jordan and think things wouldn't eventually get ugly. And the guy who said Carter has a 2 cent heart, what does that even mean?
Posted by: Rick | Mar 26, 2007 8:02:49 PM
Get off VC's Back???
Maybe when he gives us back our millions of dollars and takes back the 3 years in the cellar he gave us for turning into a little girl.
MJs words were true then, and their true now. But it's worse, VC will never have a truly successful season again because he has no leadership and no heart
Posted by: T | Mar 26, 2007 8:32:13 PM
i have countless vince posters in my room from when he was a raptor..a die hard fan in high school and i am now finishing my university degree and have been too lazy to take them down. im not here to bitch about his leadership or toughness...anyone who says he has those characteristics i could not carry a logical convo with. I once looked up to this man cause he was a competitor...hard drives, thunderous dunks, timely scoring...but as he aged, he stopped attacking so much, settled for jumpers, and his on court behaviour sometimes is a shame (laughing, acting like hes playing ping pong with his friends at crucial parts of games). Now there will be a counterargument for this, but to that I say, im not a dumb toronto fan...im a former vince fan who can tell u he cant get it done with the raptors, nets, or anywhere he goes, because he has lost his passion for the game. jordan's right...defense is the art of heart...whoever wants to win the most, knows it starts on defense....look back to when he played for Team USA and lead them to an olympic gold medal...pushing the australian players, dunking everything, scowling...so much heart....but thats lost now. And my goodness, do i ever miss it.
Posted by: andrew | Mar 26, 2007 11:15:44 PM
Des, love and respect your work...I think the bobcats should indeed pursue 'Vincanity'...everyone knows thats all we need...that scorer in the split middle of a great and up-and-coming back court and front court. The hole is Vince..Which will be filled all in the fourth... That 4thQ presence. He would pass along side RF20 throughout the game and then average 15pts (his number) in the 4th. Saving hisself.... And that would show and help bring out the best player Morrison's gonna show us he is, of course after being the best 6th man backin up VC. What a way to be taught. AM is a baby Larry Legend anywayz.:) But for real, my last one to finalized the team is Raji Bell... That other also 4thQ presence. 'Stopper', the other teams mostly best player that he will be guarding. So.....with a team as such, would really surpass the expectations everyone including myself have on the Panthers getting back to the SB......45+ win season. I dont have to mention the players names...Think and Say that starting five and reserves out loud..Uhhh... Okay I'll get off but.. "I", notice I said I, really think that'll do it for us. We dont need K. Martin nor P. Gasol or K. Brown or B. Haywood. Maybe A Damien Wilkins/C. Frye/or Rayshard Lewis. Save gettin the big/post up man to pending the draft. Sorry but, What do u think? Thanks...
Posted by: Desmond | Mar 27, 2007 2:14:42 AM
Fan of the Nets? How would you know otherwise? As a Nets fan, seen/heard the support for Kidd, Jefferson and KMart. To a lesser extent Carter.
"I hope Vince leave NJN because the city does not cheer for none of the players. This is the worst arena in the NBA.
I will follow Vince Carter for the rest of his carrer. I am a fan for life."
Posted by: SekC | Mar 27, 2007 11:00:45 AM
With a better supporting cast, how come he didn't go further than he did with the Raptors?
Look at how the Raptors got rid of him, and for what? Nothing much other than a pick, and to have to pay Zo... but where are they now?
I think Raptor fans are onto something.
"Forget what idiot raptor fans are telling you (they're idiots after all) the guy went as far with that team as anyone could go. And when your 2nd best player is antonio davis, that's not very far. The guy who mentioned how he was picked up by the nets to "get them over the hump only to be swept in th 1st rd by the heat" neglected to mention that the hump wasn't to make them a contender, it was to stop the freefall they were in to becoming a league bottomfeeder. Vince nearly singlehandedly carried that team to the playoffs which is impressive considering they were battling for lottery position before he got there.The guy is still a great player, and is exactly the type of closer the Bobcats need."
Posted by: SekC | Mar 27, 2007 11:03:46 AM
Actually I watched Vince for a long time in Toronto he always settled for those jumpoers. Thats just the way he played. He did get NJ over the hump by winning 49 games and making them contenders again. Last year tey had a shot at a title but
rj and Kristic had to ruin it. Toronto was another story all together. Vince tried as hard as he could but eventually the staff screwed him up by making crappy descisions and blaming it on him for not playing hard. To all of you who think Vince has not improved arejust ignorant of the way he has with his paasing, rebounding, and even shooting. Everyone knows if Vince didnt create love and then hate for the fans the franchis would have been sold just like Vancouver. This season it has not been Vince who screwd up its been once again RJ and Kristic who both got injured and Thorn for not choosing the right mix of bench players. Kobe is more talented than Vince and was unfairly compared to him. Kobe is just more talented.
and why would Charlotte waste max money on him. He has a nice team and contract comin up. If I were MJ I would try chasing after a younget star and just keep drafting high. Build around Emeka, Morrison, and Felton. And to Anthony the reason no one goes o Nes games is because the arena is horrible and its in the middle of a swamp.
Posted by: Vinvefan | Mar 27, 2007 6:54:17 PM
If we aren't able to get Durant in the draft we will probably be getting a big man (it appears they are the only ones worthy of a high lottery pick). If we drop down in the draft a bit then we could stretch for Jeff Green who would help at the 3... In any case, without Durant we should go after Carter.. He'll give us immediate help in the scoring department and provide us with that true go-to player.
After years of watching Rashard Lewis play in Seattle I don't think has that go-to player mentality and would be best suited as a second option.
Posted by: OneAmaru | Mar 31, 2007 12:21:05 PM
I think that the Bobcats should seek out the Burger King where Joe Forte works and give him a contract. Anything they offer Joe would be better than the 7 to 8 bucks an hour he's making now.
Posted by: Caulder | Apr 5, 2007 10:24:06 AM
Post a comment
Advertisements
