MISSED OPPORTUNITY
This season's re-emergence of Vince Carter as one of the league's best players just adds to the pain and suffering going on with the Orlando Magic.
From the hard-to-believe-but-true file, the Magic could have obtained Carter early last season when he was pouting in Toronto, trying to force a trade. His agent had called the Magic, expressing his interest in coming here.
The Raptors sounded willing to take Kelvin Cato, some salary-cap filler, and draft picks in return, but then-Magic General Manager John Weisbrod nixed that deal.
The Raptors, so eager to get rid of Carter and his lucrative contract, soon sent him to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning and journeymen Aaron Williams and Eric Williams, knowing that Mourning never would play in Canada.
The trade to New Jersey provided a dramatic attitude adjustment for Carter, who was huge in the Nets' recent 10-game winning streak. When it was snapped last week, Carter immediately was talking about starting another one.
"Got to start a new one," Carter remarked. "It was fun for me - the first 10-game winning streak in my career, so I'm greedy now. I want more."
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13628628.htm