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Chris Broussard: It looks like it's Portland or bust for Vince Carter, according to a person with knowledge of the trade talks surrounding New Jersey's star forward.
"It's looking like it's going to be head-to-head between Carter and Richard Jefferson," the person said. "I think Jefferson's going to be the one who goes to Portland."
While Carter may be the better player, Portland's concerned with Carter's age (he turned 32 last month) and the three years, $51 million left on his contract (though only $4 million of the $18 million in his final season is guaranteed).
The Nets have their own concerns about Carter's contract and that's why they've been shopping him. They've spoken with San Antonio, Houston and Dallas but nothing has come of those talks.
Discussions with San Antonio have broken down because the Spurs, while willing to part with Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto, are not willing to include Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill in the deal.
Houston would have traded Tracy McGrady for Carter, but McGrady's announcement that he'll have season-ending microfracture surgery killed those chances.
"There will be no Vince deal," another source close to the situation said, referring to the Rockets.
The Los Angeles Clippers, who since training camp have regretted signing Baron Davis to a five-year, $65 million deal, have tried to get involved, proposing a three-team move that would send Davis to Houston, McGrady to New Jersey and Carter to LA. But no one but the Clippers liked that deal.
If Carter doesn't go to Portland, will the Nets send him wherever they can?
"I'd be surprised if they did a straight salary dump, but at the end of the day that might be best for their organization," said one source.
As for Milwaukee's Jefferson, it's far from a done deal that he'll join the Blazers. The Bucks would love to send Jefferson to Portland in a deal that would bring back Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract, but another executive close to the talks said, "It's not dead but there's nothing happening right now."
The Bucks' talks with San Antonio about Jefferson have stalled as well.
Portland's telling teams it has 15 different players it can get for LaFrentz. But many executives around the league are skeptical, saying the Blazers like to talk about deals but are always hesitant to pull the trigger on anything significant.
"It's looking like it's going to be head-to-head between Carter and Richard Jefferson," the person said. "I think Jefferson's going to be the one who goes to Portland."
While Carter may be the better player, Portland's concerned with Carter's age (he turned 32 last month) and the three years, $51 million left on his contract (though only $4 million of the $18 million in his final season is guaranteed).
The Nets have their own concerns about Carter's contract and that's why they've been shopping him. They've spoken with San Antonio, Houston and Dallas but nothing has come of those talks.
Discussions with San Antonio have broken down because the Spurs, while willing to part with Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto, are not willing to include Roger Mason Jr. and George Hill in the deal.
Houston would have traded Tracy McGrady for Carter, but McGrady's announcement that he'll have season-ending microfracture surgery killed those chances.
"There will be no Vince deal," another source close to the situation said, referring to the Rockets.
The Los Angeles Clippers, who since training camp have regretted signing Baron Davis to a five-year, $65 million deal, have tried to get involved, proposing a three-team move that would send Davis to Houston, McGrady to New Jersey and Carter to LA. But no one but the Clippers liked that deal.
If Carter doesn't go to Portland, will the Nets send him wherever they can?
"I'd be surprised if they did a straight salary dump, but at the end of the day that might be best for their organization," said one source.
As for Milwaukee's Jefferson, it's far from a done deal that he'll join the Blazers. The Bucks would love to send Jefferson to Portland in a deal that would bring back Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract, but another executive close to the talks said, "It's not dead but there's nothing happening right now."
The Bucks' talks with San Antonio about Jefferson have stalled as well.
Portland's telling teams it has 15 different players it can get for LaFrentz. But many executives around the league are skeptical, saying the Blazers like to talk about deals but are always hesitant to pull the trigger on anything significant.
