As the market dries up on Vince Carter’s expensive contract, the Portland Trail Blazers have raised the price on the New Jersey Nets to complete a trade. Portland now wants a first-round draft pick, a league executive familiar with the talks said Wednesday night.
The Blazers and Nets have discussed several scenarios centering on Carter, including one that would send the eight-time All-Star guard, Maurice Ager and Chris Douglas-Roberts to the Blazers for Raef LaFrentz, Travis Outlaw and Sergio Rodriguez. So far, the source said, the Nets are balking. But the Blazers are counting on the fact that several Carter suitors – including San Antonio, Dallas and Houston – just don’t have the comparable assets to make a deal.
“I know they are desperate to trade Vince and teams know that,” the source said. “And now teams are looking to rob them.”
Teams are dubious of the Blazers’ claims that LaFrentz’s expiring contract has drawn leaguewide interest. Portland is considering using LaFrentz’s expiring contract on multiple deals, including Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson.
