Oft-Hurt Carter Gets New Jersey

Half man, half amazing, all gone.

Toronto’s Vince Carter, who always insisted he wasn’t the next Michael Jordan, proved it so definitively the Raptors finally gave up on him, trading the 27-year-old one-time superstar to New Jersey in a blockbuster deal that may not be the Nets’ last one.

By Friday, when he was dealt for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two No. 1 picks, Carter’s scoring average had declined almost annually, from a career-best 27.6 in 2000-01 to this season’s career-low 15.9.

“We are very excited to add a player of Vince’s caliber to the Nets’ roster,” team President Rod Thorn said. “He is a proven All-Star who brings a unique dynamic to any team of which he is a member.

“Vince’s ability to run the floor fits in very well with our desired style of play, and his ability to create his own shot will elevate the productivity of our half-court offense.”

The Nets have more on their minds than that. Lame ducks in New Jersey until their new Brooklyn arena opens in 2007 and embarrassed by their 7-14 start after unloading the salaries of Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers, they are now hoping to persuade their unhappy franchise player, Jason Kidd, to change his mind and stay.

Kidd voiced his displeasure at the team’s moves to new owner Bruce Ratner, and a source says he wants to be traded. However, any talks had to be deferred until he returned after sitting out the first month recovering from knee surgery. Going into Friday’s game in Memphis, he had yet to play more than 28 minutes.

Nevertheless, a long list of teams is reportedly lining up, including Minnesota, which can offer the big, expiring contract of Latrell Sprewell; Portland, which can offer the big, expiring contract of Shareef Abdur-Rahim; and Denver, which is willing to offer Andre Miller and Nene.

A source says the Lakers are Kidd’s No. 1 preference, but to date they have shown no interest, worried by his health, age (32) and contract ($90 million over five seasons through 2007-08.)

The Nets could potentially have a great running game with Kidd, Carter and Richard Jefferson. Nevertheless, restoring Kidd’s faith in the program won’t be easy in the face of a schedule crunch. Starting with Friday’s game in Memphis, they will play 17 of 23 games on the road through Feb. 1.

Nor will it be easy for the Nets to part with three players from their front line. Former Trojan Brian Scalabrine is expected to take Mourning’s place at power forward alongside center Jason Collins, leaving only Jabari Smith and rookies Nenad Krstic and Kaniel Dickens in reserve.

Carter won’t be able to play for at least two games. He went on the injured list because of a strained Achilles’ tendon and has missed the Raptors’ last three games.

The fifth pick in the 1998 draft, Carter’s breathtaking, high-flying game peaked in the 2000-01 season, when he led the Raptors to a 47-35 record and a 3-2 victory over the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.

With their second-round series tied, 3-3, and Game 7 set for a Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia, Carter chose to attend his graduation ceremony in Chapel Hill, N.C., that morning and then fly to the game by chartered jet.

He wound up missing a potential game-winning shot as the Raptors lost, amid grumbling by teammates such as Charles Oakley. Oakley was subsequently dumped and grumbled further that management was coddling Carter.

After that, the Raptors’ victory totals fell off (42-24-33), along with Carter’s scoring average (25-21-23). Injuries also became a problem; in those three seasons, he missed 68 games.

“Any time you lose a guy like Vince, it’s a big blow,” Toronto forward Donyell Marshall said before Friday’s game in Indiana. “He was to Canada what Michael Jordan was to the Bulls.”

More blows may be coming. Mourning, who was persuaded to sign with the Nets by his friend Kidd, voiced his own displeasure at the Nets’ moves. He isn’t expected to be enchanted to leave a 7-14 team to join one that’s 8-17 and is also on a cost-containment program.

Carter’s popularity remains high. He’s still the second leading vote-getter in the East for the All-Star game. Now to see what he actually has left.

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Falling star

Five-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, who was traded to the New Jersey Nets on Friday, has struggled with various injuries in the last four seasons.

2004-05: Strained his left Achilles tendon on Dec. 8 against the Detroit Pistons and was placed on the injured list. In 20 games, Carter is averaging career lows in points (15.9), rebounds (3.3), minutes (30.4), field-goal percentage (41.1%) and free-throw percentage (69.4%).

* 2003-04: Missed nine games because of a sprained ankle and a strained right quadriceps.

* 2002-03: Missed a career-high 39 games because of three separate stints on the injured list. Carter left the game April 6 against New Jersey with a left ankle sprain and he missed the remaining six games of the regular season. Other significant injuries were a strained right knee and quadriceps tendon strain in his left knee.

* 2001-02: Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and missed the final 14 games of the regular season. He injured his left quadriceps March 7 against San Antonio and was placed on the injured list.

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The Trade

New Jersey acquires

Vince Carter: Forward

Toronto acquires

Alonzo Mourning: Center

Aaron Williams: Center

Eric Williams: Forward

Two first-round draft picks