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July 2, 2007
Nets to sign Carter
Bruce Ratner delays reconstruction of Nets while looking forward to construction of Yards.
It looks like Ratner's need to keep franchise players in Nets jerseys, especially favorite son Vince Carter, is greater than the team's need to rebuild before possibly moving the team to a new arena in Brooklyn.
Ratner is in a damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't situation. If he lets Carter go, he'll be blamed for gutting the team of key players. However, signing the star guard will put Ratner's Nets on track to surpass this year's luxury-tax threshold, and keeps the team from getting serious about rebuilding. One thing's for sure, repeatedly professing his fondness for Carter probably didn't help the team's negotiating position.
Running a top NBA franchise into the ground is probably not in the original business plan for Atlantic Yards, but things sure seem headed that way.
Bergen Record, Nets' Carter agrees to four-year deal
According to league sources, Carter agreed in principle on a guaranteed four-year deal worth between $61 million and $62 million, with a partially guaranteed team option for the fifth year. The partial guarantee for the 2011-12 season is for about $4 million.
The deal cannot be signed or announced until July 11, the first day the moratorium is lifted.
NY Daily News, Nets give Vince 4 years, $61M
Though Carter was inconsistent during a postseason run that ended with the Nets losing to the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged 25.2 points, six rebounds and 4.8 assists during the regular season and was terrific during a 13-game stretch to end the season during which the Nets went 10-3 to secure the sixth seed in the conference.
NY Post, WELCOME BACK, CARTER
Carter, who had the endorsement of owner Bruce Ratner as a prime bargaining chip, formally opted out of the final year of his contract, worth $16.3 million, and the Nets received notification of his intent on Saturday.
Newark Star-Ledger, Nets waste no time, give Carter 4-year deal
Their capitulation was inevitable, for one reason: Owner Bruce Ratner said in March he wanted Carter on his team despite the eight-time All-Star's disappointing postseason performance, even if a new deal vaulted the team's payroll over the luxury tax threshold, which will be set later this month at approximately $65.4 million.
Posted by lumi at July 2, 2007 8:52 AM