Thursday, July 1, 2004
VC reportedly not happy with team's moves
ESPN.com news services
Vince Carter apparently has asked the Toronto Raptors to trade him, ESPN's David Aldridge reported Thursday.
According to a league source, Carter is not happy with the recent appointment of Rob Babcock as the team's new general manager nor with the team's selection of Rafael Arajuo with the No. 8 pick in last month's NBA draft.
"He wants out desperately," the source said. "He doesn't like the direction of the team."
While the source told Aldridge that Carter presented four to six different trade proposals to the Raptors, the team has not granted Carter permission to seek a trade and Babcock said that the team has no plans to trade Carter.
"He's a marquee player, and he puts fans in the seats," Babcock said. "The only way we trade him is if we get something similar back."
If Carter indeed is on the market, he would join standouts such as the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, Seattle's Ray Allen and Boston's Paul Pierce as stars who could be switching teams this summer. League scoring champion Tracy McGrady already was dealt to Houston by Orlando in a seven-player deal earlier this week.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832996
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Allen is entering final year of deal
ESPN.com news services
The Seattle Sonics are seeking offers for All-Star guard Ray Allen, who's entering the last year of his contract, ESPN's David Aldridge reported Thursday.
According to sources, Minnesota and Boston are among the teams Seattle has contacted. The discussions with the Celtics apparently haven't progressed because the Celtics, while interested in both Allen and forward Vladimir Radmanovic, are unlikely to include All-Star Paul Pierce in a deal for Allen.
The Sonics have denied they are shopping Allen, who just hired Lon Babby as his agent after not having an agent for several years. Allen has been at most of the team's off-season workouts in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Sonics are trying to re-sign free agent guard Brent Barry. Seattle has offered Barry a three-year, $18 million deal. However, at least one team is planning to offer the 32-year-old Barry $20 million for three years.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1833036