Unlike many veterans who prioritize winning a championship above all else as they approach retirement, Vince Carter has signed with rebuilding teams in each of the last two summers, joining the Hawks in 2018 after playing for Sacramento in 2017/18. Atlanta is off to a 5-18 start this season, but Carter has no regrets about joining the lottery-bound club, as Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press details.
“I’m with a great bunch of guys,” Carter said. “I enjoy helping young guys who want to learn, who are willing to be coached and let you coach them and ask questions. It’s a small thing, but it’s a major thing — because if you’re asking questions, that means you’re trying to learn and grow. And these guys are all great.”
Carter, who will turn 42 in January, hasn’t ruled out the possibility of trying to continue his career beyond 2018/19. If this ends up being his final season in the NBA though, he sounds content to finish out the year with the Hawks, rather than being traded to a team that could give him a chance to appear in the NBA Finals for the first time.
Following his signing with the Hawks, Carter explained that he still wanted to earn regular minutes and prove he could be a productive player, rather than sitting on the bench for a contender. So far this season, he has been solid in Atlanta, averaging 6.8 PPG in a part-time role, shooting 36.0% on three-pointers, while also providing guidance for the team’s youngsters.
“It’s easy to go sit on the bench and watch your team win and not really contribute,” Carter told Reynolds. “Yeah, with my voice, I could contribute. But I want to do both (contribute on and off the court).”
Carter will become trade-eligible on December 15, but there have been no indications yet that the Hawks intend to explore moving him.
I’d love to see Vince finish his career in Toronto and be a part of a deep championship run. Maybe Memphis where he had some good years with the Grizz
Toronto does have an open roster spot and he could push CJ Miles for his minutes
I’m happy for VC. I know at the beginning of the season he mentioned he just wanted to play. He didn’t want to ride the bench for to contend for a ring. I dont blame him. He gets PT in ATL. He won’t get a ring but he’ll surely get inducted into the HOF.
I don’t understand why would you give Vince carter 15-20 minutes a night when you’re in a rebuild. He’s not even having a good year, his advance numbers make him way under replacement value. I’m sure he adds veteran leadership but the numbers clearly don’t justify the minutes.
Hawks want to tank.
Young players benefit from playing with veterans that know what they’re doing and the fans benefit from seeing Vince. Life isn’t a video game where giving young guys more NBA minutes automatically makes them better players.
Because your young guys act entitled to minutes if you don’t have some cagey vet to push them. If a young player knows he has to earn his minutes – and if he doesn’t feel threatened by the guy he’s competing with – he grows faster.
All the smart teams do it this way. Sacramento got a lot of criticism for playing vets last year, but that’s looking pretty smart now…