We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Why does Vince Carter keep signing with non-playoff teams like the Kings and Hawks when he should be chasing rings at his age? — DW, via Twitter
The priority for Carter seems to be playing time, which wouldn’t be guaranteed on a contending team for someone who will turn 42 during the season. A lot of people questioned his decision to sign with Sacramento last season, but he wound up in 58 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per night. Plus he collected $8MM, which no contender would have been willing to pay. Carter will only get a veteran’s minimum deal from the Hawks, but it gives him another year in the NBA and it allows him to serve as a mentor to a young roster, which is something else he seems to enjoy.
Just wondering about Kenrich Williams, saw him perform well for the Nuggets during summer league. He should have been drafted, shocked that he wasn’t and I think that someone is going to get him for a steal. — Sergeant Preston
This email was received before Williams signed with the Pelicans this week, but he does have the look of someone who can eventually contribute at the NBA level. Williams was a versatile player at TCU, posting a 13.2/9.3/3.9 line in his senior season, and he projects as either a small forward or stretch four in the NBA. At 23, he’s a little bit old for a prospect and it doesn’t help that he landed on a team without a direct G League affiliate. However, his ability to guard several positions is highly valued in the modern NBA and he will have opportunities to find the right situation, whether that’s with the Pelicans or someone else.
How likely is it the Knicks make the playoffs? — Eli Samuels
It could also be that Carter doesn’t place much emphasis on a ring that get as the 11th man on the bench. Carter has enough money to go buy any ring he wants. I appreciate his integrity and respect for the game and that is hard for me to say about a Tar Heel.
Yeah I don’t get the obsession with wanting vets to go to contenders to not play and get a ring. What’s the point of winning a championship you don’t contribute to?
I’m sure Pat Ewing, Gary Payton, Karl Malone and many others would disagree with you. Remember T Mac a couple of years ago not playing all year, then signing with the Spurs for the playoffs?
I’m not saying players don’t do it, but would we look back at the careers of any of those players differently if they had sat on the bench all year and then been given a ring based off other players contributions?
Karl Malone could sign with the Warriors right now, not play, and get a ring, is that an accomplishment any of us would care about?
I’d rather see guys like Vince Carter actually play.
I don’t really see Durant ever leaving the Warriors unless something crazy happens.
Since Myles Turner and Kristaps Porzingas are friends, and the Knicks are interested in Turner next summer, I’d like to see the Pacers trade Turner and Bojan Bogdonovich to the Knicks for Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, and Courtney Lee (he’s from Indianapolis and Pacers have tried to get him before).
Tyreke Evans would play small forward with Knox and McDermott. Robinson center behind Sabonis and O’Quinn, Lee at shooting guard with Oladipo. Turner would start center with Knicks and Bogdonovich would start small forward. The Pacers need good youth.
That’s a terrible trade. Knicks would probably go for it that being said.
Don’t worry the Pacers aren’t stupid. They’re not trading competent starters for unproven rookies. The Pacers are winning. The Knicks won’t.
What worries me about the Pacers is I know they want to move Sabonis to power forward so they don’t have to pay Sabonis, Turner, and Thaddeus Young.
Sabonis shooting was real bad when he played the 4 in OKC. That and I remember Larry Bird taking a break for a year so he wouldn’t have to be responsible for matching Portland’s max offer to Roy Hibbert. He dropped it on Donnie Walsh’s lap. Just like he dropped trading Paul George on Kevin Pritchard’s lap. Like Hibbert, I don’t know if Turner is a max player. If the Knicks offer him the max, with all the players available, I think I’d let him go.
Tough call. If he comes back healthy & hits 3s he might get the offer. He would probably like NYC too. Front line of Turner, Zinger & Knox, could break through.
Couldn’t agree more with hiflew & LordBanana. What’s the point in winning a championship playing like 5 minutes per game, if that much? Also a ring wouldn’t make VC’s career any better, the man is a walking legend, he has got already his legacy, no need to be a ring chaser. Hats off to him.