Vince Carter Looking To Play a Couple More Years In NBA

by 7footer on Jul 21, 2011 12:37 PM MST

Vince Carter, once one of the most dynamic and athletically gifted players in the NBA, is now 34 years old and showing every bit of his age. Although the Phoenix Suns and their highly touted training staff lead by Aaron Nelson have earned a reputation for extending the careers of players including Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and even Shaquille O`Neal; even they had trouble turning back the clock on the aging Vinsanity once he was brought in via trade with the Orlando Magic during the 2010/11 season. Carter's lack of efficiency on the court and his nagging injuries last season with the Suns led many to question whether or not he would soon retire from the NBA. Even though the Suns will no doubt buy out Carter's remaining contract to save cap space going into next season, it doesn't appear that Vince is quite ready to hang up his sneakers.

In a recent interview with Ken Willis of the Dayton Beach News Journal, Vince Carter shared his views on the NBA lockout and also his future plans to continue playing in the league. Like most other players, Carter is anxious for the lockout to end so he can resume playing. When asked on what he plans on doing when the lockout ends, assuming that his contract with the Suns is bought out and that he will be a free agent, Vince replied, "You may not know where, but you have to be ready to play. I still want to play a couple more years...".

Those who watched Vince Carter play last year will likely question how much he has left. At times he showed flashes of his former self, but all too often he simply appeared to be going through the motions. As a free agent, he certainly will not receive anything close to the lucrative contract he last signed with Orlando, but if he wants to play, there will surely be teams interested if the price is right. Like many other vets, one would assume Carter's intentions will be to sign with a contender in hopes of finishing his career with a championship. Carter's days as a star, or even a starter, appear all but over. However, he could still contribute meaningful minutes off the bench for a number of teams if he can stay healthy (and motivated).

Source: The Daytona Beach News Journal

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Comments

I would love to see him play

But sometimes I think the best thing to do for an aging player, especially when he is losing skill, is to just retire. That way people remember when he was on top, and not just a ghost of his former self. If he has got more juice in the tank, then more power to him if not…he needs to let go.

Check out my blog:
http://walkingonthesuns.blog.com/

by Keith Owen Martin on Jul 21, 2011 12:46 PM MST reply actions

FTFY

I would love to see him play for someone else

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 21, 2011 1:38 PM MST up reply actions

Correction.

I would love to see him play for someone else after I light him on fire first

Grant Hill eats MVPs for breakfast.

by NashMV3 on Jul 21, 2011 2:42 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Unless that someone else is LA or SA.

I’d much rather have him alive and on the court in that situation. Better for us.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 21, 2011 9:45 PM MST up reply actions

He could still be alive and eternally in flames, can't he?

Grant Hill eats MVPs for breakfast.

by NashMV3 on Jul 21, 2011 9:52 PM MST up reply actions

Hmm...

Lets get Scott working on that.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 21, 2011 11:38 PM MST up reply actions

*Let's

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 21, 2011 11:38 PM MST up reply actions

Do they make ever-burning kerosene?

I would assume that under good lighting, one could say Vince looks positively radiant.

Grant Hill eats MVPs for breakfast.

by NashMV3 on Jul 21, 2011 11:52 PM MST up reply actions

Agreed

Lets take out a team by trading The Vinsanity-strain.

Check out my blog:
http://walkingonthesuns.blog.com/

by Keith Owen Martin on Jul 21, 2011 11:21 PM MST up reply actions

I VOTE HEAT

lol

by NASHTY777 on Jul 23, 2011 1:20 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I VOTE CELTICS

"Maybe I’m old school," Nash said, "but I signed a contract to play here and I want to honor it. I feel like I owe it to my teammates and the city and everybody to keep battling until they tell me it’s time to go." STEVE (God of Basketball) NASH

by 2NASHTY on Jul 23, 2011 4:18 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

I VOTE HALF GOES TO LA AND HALF GOES TO BOSTON

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 24, 2011 9:24 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

you know...some times I feel i'm not thinking outside the box

thank you for showing me the way.

by 2NASHTY on Jul 25, 2011 1:21 AM MST up reply actions

Half-Man goes to LA and Half-Amazing goes to Boston?

Re-sign BAMF.

by brian13 on Jul 25, 2011 9:37 AM MST up reply actions

Hmm...

You’re right. I need to devote more thought to this before moving forward. Perhaps we can burn the half-amazing part, and split the half man into quarters?

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 25, 2011 10:01 AM MST up reply actions

Yeah. These guys just can’t let go. Iverson wants to come back and play a couple more years too. Is there any team dumb enough to take a chance on him? I doubt it.

by BringBackBarkley17 on Jul 21, 2011 6:01 PM MST up reply actions

Does Vince have anything left in the tank?

I don’t expect him to retire either, although he certainly wouldn’t announce that until after he receives his expected $4 million buy out either way. But it seems like he is committed to playing a couple more seasons regardless, and this leads me to believe that he is probably looking for a ring more than anything at this point.

What are his best options?

- The Magic? Re-signing with the Magic with a much cheaper contract may make sense. He lives there and would probably love to finish out his career in Orlando. As long as Howard is on the team they are a legit contender, and without J-Rich next season they could use another two-guard…but they may opt to go a different route.

- The Heat? He could be a 2/3 combo guard that could help give them additional scoring off the bench. They are probably the best contender and it also keeps him close to home in Florida so he may sign for a very reduced contract.

- The Lakers? Would Kobe and co. rather have Vince than Pietrus? Probably if the price is right.

- The Knicks? Carter seems like a D’Antoni kind of guy…He could provide scoring off the bench at the 2/3 and help keep the offense going while Amare and/or Melo are resting.

These are my most likely guesses for which team Vince plays for next season…All of these teams are looking at salary cap issues though, so it will of course depend on what happens with the new CBA and whether or not there is a hard or soft cap going forward. I have a feeling Vince could still be a good veteran bench player for any of these teams if he was sufficiently motivated to play hard for them (which he obviously never was here).

by 7footer on Jul 21, 2011 2:43 PM MST reply actions

I see him with the

Knicks
Bulls
Heat
all contending teams that need a scorer.

"I don't lift weights because they are heavy, and I don't run because it makes me tired." - Charles Barkley

by Suns R Us on Jul 21, 2011 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

Sorry, correction

Knicks not being contenders, I mean playoff teams.

"I don't lift weights because they are heavy, and I don't run because it makes me tired." - Charles Barkley

by Suns R Us on Jul 21, 2011 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

Yep...I forgot about the Bulls.

That’s a definite possibility if they don’t get J-Rich; which is said to be a very real possibility since both parties have supposedly expressed mutual interest.

by 7footer on Jul 21, 2011 3:55 PM MST up reply actions

How are the HEAT lacking scorers???

by NASHTY777 on Jul 23, 2011 1:21 PM MST up reply actions

Their offense is the reason they didn’t get it done this year. They had the defense. They just needed a better facilitator and a little more outside shooting.

by BringBackBarkley17 on Jul 23, 2011 8:32 PM MST up reply actions

Their facilitators are fine. They need a better gameplan and to learn how to play together.

You can always use more shooting.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl XLV Champions!!!!

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jul 24, 2011 9:25 PM MST up reply actions

I hope Carter bounces back, cause last season was sad.

And Raptorel deserves it!

by Lompe on Jul 22, 2011 2:51 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

See, a man that thinks the right way

Rec.

by Raptorel on Jul 25, 2011 2:04 PM MST up reply actions

by Raptorel on Jul 25, 2011 2:05 PM MST up reply actions

I cant help thinking he is going to have a great year if he signs with a contender team

I think his lack of efficiency came from the absolutely no interest on playing here in Phoenix, i think he even felt insulted by Orlando Magic when he was traded, Vince Carter is just like Manny Ramirez if they wanted they could had been the very best.

I don’t see any contender team signing him, why would they ? he is going to demand big minutes and a starting role, so he might sign with Minnesota or a low budget team as a marketing resource.

Do not let Steve Nash and Grant Hill go away, please.
Otherwhise im not buying any tickets from you Saver.

by Lino Canaan on Jul 22, 2011 9:34 AM MST reply actions

Do u know whats weird?

In my association I traded VC and RoLo, to Minny for LOvE

by NASHTY777 on Jul 23, 2011 1:22 PM MST up reply actions

lol, if only

by BringBackBarkley17 on Jul 23, 2011 8:33 PM MST up reply actions

Regarding Vince Carter v. Aaron Nelson

I don’t think you can fix it when the problem is between the ears.

Voted most likely to say "I told you so"

by jc79 on Jul 22, 2011 6:37 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

True ^^^

by Raptorel on Jul 25, 2011 2:06 PM MST up reply actions

booo!

i’ve always hated him since back in the day when he dropped 50 some points on phx when he was still a raptor. bastard i hope he goes over seas for the rest of his career. play with A.I,

by miketheboss on Jul 22, 2011 6:45 PM MST reply actions

and take peaches with you! good defense pfft whats the point of playing good D if your just going to shoot a horrible shot and give the ball right back.

by miketheboss on Jul 22, 2011 6:53 PM MST up reply actions

you are far from alone in these sentiments.

by 2NASHTY on Jul 23, 2011 5:03 PM MST up reply actions

I wonder if Boston might want him.

They sure could use a scorer of the bench.

by Sunderstruck on Jul 22, 2011 10:51 PM MST reply actions

I thought about them as well...

But his age plus relative lack of defense make me think they wouldn’t be interested. I see Boston as trying to get younger and remain committed to defense…Carter gives them neither.

by 7footer on Jul 22, 2011 11:40 PM MST via mobile up reply actions