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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Vince Carter wants to live in the moment and savor everything.
Like one of his 360-degree maneuvers in the paint, he's spun his image around from underachieving malcontent back to electrifying superstar again in New Jersey. He's the leading scorer on a contender. And Jason Kidd is his backcourt sidekick, not to mention friendly neighbor and bowling and Ping-Pong partner as well.
These are several reasons why Carter doesn't want to think about the future, specifically the summer of 2007 when the star guard can exercise an option in his contract, bypass the final year on his deal and become a free agent.
"I have no clue," Carter said when asked whether he plans to become a free agent in the summer of '07. "I can't even tell you what would go in (the decision) as far as thinking. I don't want to make that an issue as far as, 'Oh man, he might not be here or who are they going to bring in?' This has been a wonderful place."
Some believe Carter will not opt out because he will make $16.3 million in the final year of his deal, and he's playing alongside Kidd and Richard Jefferson.
However, Orlando reportedly could have about $20 million in cap space available by the summer of '07. Grant Hill's seven-year, $92 million deal will expire after next season.
And the Magic needs another star to play alongside franchise stud Dwight Howard. Carter will be 30 years old, but he grew up in nearby Daytona Beach and has a palatial home in Orlando. He spends his summers in Orlando and his family lives in the area.
One league source doesn't think the Magic or anybody else will invest a max contract in Carter because of his age and history of injuries in Toronto.
However, if Carter has a monster year next season, he could still opt out and spark a bidding war - even if it is for less than a max deal - between the Nets, Orlando or another team under the cap, such as Charlotte, where Carter, a former North Carolina Tar Heel, could be a big box office draw.
"When it all boils down and gets close, I'll just look at everything and go from there," Carter said. "I'm at a point now, scoring all the points is great, but I just want to win. I've been on teams where we were OK. Now I am on a good team."
Carter is valuable to the Nets for more than just his scoring. He is one of the marketable superstars in the NBA and the Nets would love to have Carter in uniform when the team moves to Brooklyn, hopefully for the 2009-2010 season.
But they also have Jefferson's $76 million contract on the books and Kidd still has three years and $59 million left on his deal.</div>
Source
Like one of his 360-degree maneuvers in the paint, he's spun his image around from underachieving malcontent back to electrifying superstar again in New Jersey. He's the leading scorer on a contender. And Jason Kidd is his backcourt sidekick, not to mention friendly neighbor and bowling and Ping-Pong partner as well.
These are several reasons why Carter doesn't want to think about the future, specifically the summer of 2007 when the star guard can exercise an option in his contract, bypass the final year on his deal and become a free agent.
"I have no clue," Carter said when asked whether he plans to become a free agent in the summer of '07. "I can't even tell you what would go in (the decision) as far as thinking. I don't want to make that an issue as far as, 'Oh man, he might not be here or who are they going to bring in?' This has been a wonderful place."
Some believe Carter will not opt out because he will make $16.3 million in the final year of his deal, and he's playing alongside Kidd and Richard Jefferson.
However, Orlando reportedly could have about $20 million in cap space available by the summer of '07. Grant Hill's seven-year, $92 million deal will expire after next season.
And the Magic needs another star to play alongside franchise stud Dwight Howard. Carter will be 30 years old, but he grew up in nearby Daytona Beach and has a palatial home in Orlando. He spends his summers in Orlando and his family lives in the area.
One league source doesn't think the Magic or anybody else will invest a max contract in Carter because of his age and history of injuries in Toronto.
However, if Carter has a monster year next season, he could still opt out and spark a bidding war - even if it is for less than a max deal - between the Nets, Orlando or another team under the cap, such as Charlotte, where Carter, a former North Carolina Tar Heel, could be a big box office draw.
"When it all boils down and gets close, I'll just look at everything and go from there," Carter said. "I'm at a point now, scoring all the points is great, but I just want to win. I've been on teams where we were OK. Now I am on a good team."
Carter is valuable to the Nets for more than just his scoring. He is one of the marketable superstars in the NBA and the Nets would love to have Carter in uniform when the team moves to Brooklyn, hopefully for the 2009-2010 season.
But they also have Jefferson's $76 million contract on the books and Kidd still has three years and $59 million left on his deal.</div>
Source
