Vince Carter expected to be back with the Magic
Over the weekend, I outlined the Magic’s options with regard to Vince Carter, but it looks like GM Otis Smith is intent on keeping him around, assuming he’s being forthcoming (which is not his strong suit).
Carter is expected to remain with the Magic through next season, according to Smith. Carter, 33, fell short of being the go-to guy that many expected. “I think that Vince will tell you he’d like to have had a better season, but I’m not putting it on one guy. We failed as a unit,” Smith said. Carter has an expiring contract next season at $17 million — salary-cap friendly for other teams in a trade. But Smith said he “anticipates” Carter staying the entire season. Asked about the prospect of being dealt, Carter told the Sentinel, “I’m not worried about that. I know how the business works. I think I can stand on my body of work.”
When asked how close he thought the Magic were to winning a title, Smith responded:
General Manager Otis Smith put his thumb and index finger together and there was very little space left in between.
“Getting better for us, you’re talking one-eighth of an inch, not two feet,” Smith said Monday as the Magic met for the last time until training camp in October.
Hmm. I’m not sure how you can see this season as progress when you were nearly swept in the Eastern Conference Finals a year after losing 4-1 in the Finals with two of those losses coming in overtime. Unless, of course, you’re a general manager and want to spin the job you’ve done over the last year.
By nearly any measure, the Magic are further away from a title than they were a year ago and that has a lot to do with the addition of Vince Carter. For the sake of Magic fans everywhere, I sure hope that Smith is blowing smoke.
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Posted in: Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip
Tags: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Vince Carter
Carter would still be a good player if he attacked the basket more often and stopped settling for lousy outside jumpers. He can still create his own shot and take it hard to the rim when he wants to.
I agree the Magic were further away from a title than they were the year prior. Carter disappointed in the 2010 Playoffs and they sorely missed Turkoglu. I still feel trading for Carter was the right move at the time and may have looked better if they also bit the bullet and matched the Raptors’ contract offer for Turkoglu. Having Carter and Turkoglu on the same team in the 2010 Playoffs may have allowed them to beat the Celtics and even beat the Lakers.
Where I think Otis Smith goofed up was getting cheap and letting Turkoglu walk while splurging on Gortat and Bass. That’s not the message you want to send to your players, coaches, and fans when you could be the favorites to represent the East in the Finals. Yes, they were already deep into the luxury tax even without Turkoglu but that’s why I suggest they keep him. They’re already spending all that money; why not spend on Turkoglu too and become a legit challenger not in the East but vs. the Lakers? If they’re really concerned about payroll, then sign cheaper backup big men than Gortat and Bass (or let Ryan Anderson be the primary backup 4). I’m sure there would’ve been plenty of quality big men willing to take a discount to join a stacked team like Howard/Lewis/Turkoglu/Carter/Nelson.
Maybe Turkoglu slacks off like he did with the Raptors and in his return to the Magic in 2011 but if his 2009 version shows up in the 2010 Playoffs, maybe Carter would’ve been inspired to show up in the 2010 Playoffs too. Maybe the whole team would’ve had more mojo knowing that management is willing to spend what it takes to build a true championship contender and be aggressive in amassing talent, keeping the 2009 Finals core together (Turkoglu) and add a star on top of that (Carter).