Vince Carter to the Spurs?

According to Stephen A. Smith, the Nets are shopping Vince Carter to the Spurs for expiring contracts. The Nets would get back Bruce Bowen, Michael Finley, Kurt Thomas and some throw in players. The Nets badly want to unload Vince's bloated contract so that they can make a run at LeBron James in 2010. This would be a great move for the Spurs. If they can pair Vince up with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili they would instantly become the favorites in the Western Conference. The move might push the Spurs into a luxury tax next year but I think it's worth it. The Spurs have a 2-3 year window with their current core of players and should take a shot at winning it all this year. The move would cost the Spurs about 40 million over the next 2 seasons and then they could unload Vince.

This would be a bad trade for the Nets. I know that they would get salary cap relief in the future but they wouldn't get any star caliber player back. The only way this works for the Nets is if they can convince LeBron, D Wade, Chris Bosh or Yao Ming to come to New Jersey in 2010.

Vince for TMac??

The Nets and Rockets are considering swapping cousins trading Tracy McGrady for Vince Carter. The Rockets have grown tired of the often injured Tracy McGrady. McGrady was once considered an untouchable by the Rockets. They envisioned McGrady and Yao being as formidable a partnership as Shaq and Kobe were. It never happened. Yao and McGrady are always hurt. They have never even played closed to a full season together. TMac's problems have never been from a lack of effort just a lack of good health.

Meanwhile Vince Carter hasn't been right since he left Toronto. He was one of the games most exciting players when he was in Toronto. Vince has always been too eager to settle for the long jumper. He is not aggressive enough and does not attack the basket. Vince is content just being a pretty good player and not a great one. If Vince maximized his ability he would be mentioned in the same breath with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

I don't think that this deal would make much of a difference to either team. The Rockets are not much better with VC instead of TMac. The Nets still wouldn't match up any better with the Celtics or Cavs if they did get McGrady. It makes you wonder just what would have happened if Vince and Tracy had stayed in Toronto and played together their whole careers. Maybe things would have turned out differently.