Vince Carter opts out of final year of deal to test free agency

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Vince Carter opted out of the final year of a contract with the New Jersey Nets that would have paid the All-Star guard $16.3 million this coming season.

Vince Carter

Carter
Nets' President Rod Thorn said Saturday the team was informed Friday that Carter would test the free agent market, but he remained optimistic the 30-year-old swingman would return next season.

"Unless he's changed his mind, we're hoping he's back," Thorn told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "He said he wants to return and we've always said we wanted him back."

The two sides have talked about a contract for the past month, and they are close to an agreement on a four-year deal worth more than $60 million.

Any new contract could not be signed until July 11. If the two sides reach an agreement, Thorn said the team is prohibited from announcing the deal until then.

Kurt Schoeppler, Carter's agent, has not returned telephone calls left at his Cleveland office since the negotiations began. He did not return a call on Saturday.

Carter averaged team-highs of 25.2 points in the regular season and 22.3 for the postseason.

If there is a knock on Carter, who will be entering his 10th season, it's his failure to step up in the playoffs. He shot less than 40 percent from the field in the postseason and he made several big mistakes.

Carter turned the ball over in the closing seconds of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal against Cleveland with the Nets down two points and 2-1 in the series. He also was somewhat of a no-show for the deciding Game 6, scoring 11 points while having more turnovers (5) than baskets (4).

The other potential free agent the Nets would like to lock up is center Mikki Moore, who took over the starting job after Nenad Krstic was lost in December with a knee injury. Moore averaged career-bests of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds while leading the league in field goal percentage .609.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[Lunatic]

seen this...probably going back to the nets

[floatin_above_everything]

seen this...probably going back to the nets

He did

[7even]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

[Bay Area Jat]

he already signed a 4 year 60 million dollar deal wit the nets

[WC Iz Active]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

could u imagine?  Jermaine, Kidd, Carter in the East

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

could u imagine?  Jermaine, Kidd, Carter in the East

atleast the 3rd best team in the east, and 5th in the league if that happened

[7even]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

could u imagine?  Jermaine, Kidd, Carter in the East

atleast the 3rd best team in the east, and 5th in the league if that happened

You imply that the top 5 in the league features 3 teams from the east?

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

could u imagine?  Jermaine, Kidd, Carter in the East

atleast the 3rd best team in the east, and 5th in the league if that happened

You imply that the top 5 in the league features 3 teams from the east?

spurs and suns will beat any team in the east in a 7 game series.  the pistons, bulls, and the cavs would beat any other team in the West in a 7 game series.

i dont believe in the Mavs anymore if that is what you are wondering. 

[7even]

if the nets get JO it's gonna be a team to take seriously again

could u imagine?  Jermaine, Kidd, Carter in the East

atleast the 3rd best team in the east, and 5th in the league if that happened

You imply that the top 5 in the league features 3 teams from the east?

spurs and suns will beat any team in the east in a 7 game series.  the pistons, bulls, and the cavs would beat any other team in the West in a 7 game series.

i dont believe in the Mavs anymore if that is what you are wondering. 

 

[Bay Area Jat]

IMO the mavs are in turmoil and have a lot of question marks when it comes to someone stepping up and being a man and leading that team.

[floatin_above_everything]

Just remember, although Phoenix or San Antonio would almost definitley beat us in a 7 game series, we are a true playoff team, and though we haven't made the finals in a couple years, we almost always advance at least past the 1st round. I really like our chances with having Kristic back for a full season, hopefully we can resign Moore. If Billups leaves Detroit and Vince gets a little bit more control over his game in the 4th, I think we have a really legitimate shot at being a contender in the East.

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

Just remember, although Phoenix or San Antonio would almost definitley beat us in a 7 game series, we are a true playoff team, and though we haven't made the finals in a couple years, we almost always advance at least past the 1st round. I really like our chances with having Kristic back for a full season, hopefully we can resign Moore. If Billups leaves Detroit and Vince gets a little bit more control over his game in the 4th, I think we have a really legitimate shot at being a contender in the East.

billups is back.  its gonna be tough.