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Stop the Vin-Sanity

Three years ago, I praised the Toronto Raptors for signing Vince Carter to a maximum contract extension.

Carter loved Toronto, Toronto loved Carter, and the Raptors were on the brink of reaching the NBA Finals.

Oh, Canada, how pro basketball in your country has changed.

Since Carter signed the extension, the Raptors have done little beyond lead the league in fired coaches and injuries. They’ve lacked team chemistry, been left behind in the playoff chase, and made the Los Angeles Clippers look like a model organization (well, almost).

In the process, Carter has become the poster child for why fans shouldn’t be allowed to choose starters for the All-Star Game.

Now, he’s demanding a trade.

Carter told the Toronto Sun that he’s at the point in his career, “where I do not have time to wait two to four years for a team to mature."

But here’s a newsflash to Carter: Nobody’s offering much more than a couple of future first-round picks for your services. Besides, as a perennial All-Star, Carter should have the ability to lead a team out of the doldrums all by himself.

And it’s not like the Raptors stink. Swingman Jalen Rose is a talented (albeit moody) veteran, and offseason acquisition Rafer Alston is one of the league’s up-and-coming point guards. Also, big man Chris Bosh is coming off a very promising rookie year.

Throw in one of the NBA’s most underrated forwards and great locker room guys in Donyell Marshall, and one if its sharpest shooters in Morris Peterson, and there’s no reason the Raptors can’t challenge in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

But for whatever reason, Carter feels this team is “rebuilding,” that it may not be able compete in a new division that consists of four fairly average ballclubs: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Jersey.

Truth is, if Carter and the Raptors are properly motivated, they could WIN the Atlantic Division -- challenging conference favorites Detroit, Indiana and Miami along the way.

In order for that to happen, though, the Raptors and new coach Sam Mitchell will need their so-called superstar to provide direction. Carter must be willing to place the team on his shoulders and show it the way, a la Kevin Garnett in Minnesota or even LeBron James in Cleveland.

After all, it’s not like the rest of the Raptors would refuse to give up some glory, or demand that they be considered The Man. Carter’s teammates WANT him to take most of the shots, they WANT him to demand the ball and use his explosiveness to make the big play that leads them to victory.

They want him to be the Vince Carter of old.

Carter is only 27, and despite suffering a couple of knee injuries, he can still electrify a building with his highlight-reel drives to the basket and dunks. He also doesn’t get enough credit as a passer, as many of those slashes to the hoop create a lot of perimeter shots for teammates. He’s always been unselfish enough to hit the open man.

In other words, Carter has a lot of good basketball left in him. As an added bonus, Mitchell has promised to implement a run-and-gun philosophy, an offense that would suit the athletic Carter nicely.

So hey, Vince give it another shot. You owe the Raptors at least a little something, as they’ve remained convinced that the team should be built around you -- and no one else. Despite the fact Toronto has missed the playoffs the past two seasons, the team and fans have never pointed the finger your way.

Instead, coaches have been fired (Mitchell is their third in three years), new general managers have been hired (Rob Babcock is the latest), and players have been traded, signed or flat-out benched.

Almost all of it has taken place so Carter would be happy, the Raptors realizing that a content Carter is the key to any hopes for success.

And just like the Raptors, most basketball fans still believe in Carter, myself included.

Now it’s time for Carter to keep quiet, play ball, and prove everyone right.

Van Gundy Speaks

After spending five minutes listening to Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy, I feel like lacing up the high tops and spending a few hours alone in the gym, working on my jumper. The man simply reveres the game.

I also like Van Gundy because he isn’t easily excited. Just listen to what he has to say about the Rockets’ upcoming season, and new acquisition, All-Star guard Tracy McGrady.

“I don’t believe the hype,” Van Gundy said in Street & Smith’s Pro Basketball Yearbook. “Everyone wants you to try to win the press conference, to jump up and down, but in the long run, you have to win games.”

He also pointed out that while McGrady is truly an amazing scorer, Orlando did lose 19 straight games with him in the lineup last season. “That should emphasize the fact that it’s still a team game,” Van Gundy said.

He concluded that McGrady “is unselfish and understands that sacrifice is important. He is not going to lead the league in scoring (in Houston).”

Finally, Van Gundy compared coaching in New York to coaching in Houston.

“The patience level is higher than it should be here,” he said. “They’re more patient here, but that means they’re more tolerant of bad play.”

Random Stuff

-- As reported last week, Michael Jordan has been working out and playing ball like a madman. Is he just getting back into shape, or will he really join forces with Shaquille O’Neal in Miami? Hmmm.

-- Not many people agree with me that the league needs Jordan, but most of them are just Laker fans who suffered through the Bulls’ dominance of the 1990s. I like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Carmelo Anthony, too. But those guys aren’t Jordan. Never will be, either.

-- In other comeback-related news, 42-year old Clyde Drexler has said he could easily be talked into playing “about 10 minutes a half off the bench” for a contender. Drexler is still the nicest pro basketball player I’ve met in my 12 years interviewing them, and is just a quality guy, period. And while he can no longer glide, Drexler may be joining the Denver Nuggets soon.

-- Indiana is desperately trying to trade Ron Artest, attempting to pry Peja Stojakovic away from Sacramento in the process. The Indianapolis Star reported that the Pacers would even accept less than Stojakovic in return -- as management was particularly upset with Artest’s penchant for goofing off in practice during the Eastern Conference finals. Artest also skipped a postseason meeting with Indiana GM Larry Bird, which is a lot like telling The Hulk he’s a wuss.

-- I’m happy to announce that Derrick Dial, who just might be my favorite minor league basketball player of all time, was invited to the Phoenix Suns’ training camp. Dial, 28, is a 6-foot-4 guard who spent last season playing in the ABA for the Long Beach Jam. And Dial was still the Jam’s best player even after Dennis Rodman showed up for a few games.

-- Yes, I pay close attention to the minor-leagues (I know, I need to see a basketball shrink). But with that in mind, here are a few names you might know who were selected in the Continental Basketball Association draft Sept. 21: Desmon Farmer, USC (Michigan); Jabahri Brown, Oklahoma (Rockford); Blake Stepp, Gonzaga (Idaho); Tony Babbitt, Cincinnati (Dakota); Bryant Matthews, Virginia Tech (Dakota); Darius Rice, Miami, Fla. (Gary). For the complete CBA draft, visit the league’s Web site at cbahoopsonline.

-- Finally, the Harlem Globetrotters have challenged Olympic champion Argentina to a $1-million, winner-take-all game that would be broadcast on pay-per-view. Details are being finalized, but Magic Johnson reportedly would play for the Globetrotters if the game takes place.

Curse of … Jeff Malone?

Reader Jeff Tannert (Landover, Md.) wrote, “As a longtime fan of the Wizards/Bullets, I thoroughly enjoyed your column on the team’s high hopes. But as much as it pains me to say it, I think the franchise is cursed. They haven’t made the playoffs in seven years, despite having Michael Jordan on the team for two of those. MICHAEL JORDAN, for crying out loud! Also, they haven’t WON a playoff series in 22 years, and I can’t help but wonder if the change of the team’s nickname (from Bullets to Wizards) has played a role. Any thoughts?”

Dear Jeff, I’ve written it before -- I’ve never understood the nickname change. After all, how is a stationary bullet that’s sitting on a shelf any more dangerous than practicing wizardry? (Yes, I’m milking that line for all it’s worth, which at this point, ain’t much). Besides that, if the old nickname is so evil, how come the Wizards still wear uniforms that read “Bullets” during retro night? That said, I do like the current logo and team colors. And I’m still sticking with my original statement that the Wizards have a good shot to make the playoffs this season. Even if their uniforms no longer consists of two “Ls” with hands at the end, tossing a basketball into the air.

Amico Suffers Brain Freeze, Part 312

-- Last time, I wrote that Golden State point guard Derek Fisher attended Arkansas State. Dana Bessey (Augusta, Maine) and a host of others e-mailed to point out that Fisher actually played at Arkansas-Little Rock. Thanks, everyone.

-- Also, my best friend in the whole world, Jeff Phelps, hosts ALL of the Cavaliers pregame shows on Fox Sports Ohio -- not just the ones before home games, as I wrote in the previous newsletter. Our friendship, at Jeff’s request, is now over.

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