Hoops Habit
Fansided

Toronto Raptors: 25 Best Players To Play For The Raptors

By Phil Watson

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre with t-shirts laid out on seats in a Canadian flag pattern prior to Toronto Raptors hosting Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
26 of 26
Next
INDIANAPOLIS – MARCH 9: Vince Carter #15 of the Toronto Raptors drives baseline against Ron Artest #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the game at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 9, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Raptors won 94-84. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS – MARCH 9: Vince Carter #15 of the Toronto Raptors drives baseline against Ron Artest #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the game at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 9, 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Raptors won 94-84. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1999-2004. Vince Carter. 1. player. 81. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Golden State Warriors, June 24, 1998.. SF-SG

The Toronto Raptors landed the best player in franchise history in a draft-night trade in June 1998 for one of his college teammates.

The Raptors acquired the rights to fifth overall pick Vince Carter along with cash from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the rights to fourth overall selection Antawn Jamison.

TOR_01_CARTER
TOR_01_CARTER /

Carter took Toronto by storm, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1998-99 before going to four All-Star games and earning All-NBA honors twice.

He was fourth in the league in scoring in 1999-2000 and fifth in 2000-01.

But it was an acrimonious ending for Carter with the Raptors.

The star was being benched in the fourth quarter of games by new coach Sam Mitchell and there was a huge controversy over comments Carter made to TNT’s John Thompson that were interpreted as an admission that the player quit on the team.

In December 2004, Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and first-round picks in 2005 and 2006.

The controversy was further fueled when Mourning refused to report to the Raptors.

In parts of seven seasons in Toronto, Carter averaged 23.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in 37.5 minutes per game, shooting .446/.383/.783.

Carter was a four-time All-Star with New Jersey before he was traded in June 2009 to the Orlando Magic.

In December 2010, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns, who waived him in December 2011.

He signed three days later as a free agent with the Dallas Mavericks and in July 2014 signed with the Memphis Grizzlies.

With the Grizzlies last season, Carter averaged 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game on .388/.349/.833 shooting, appearing in 60 games and starting three.

Next: The 30 Best Small Forwards of All-Time

Under contract with the Grizzlies through 2016-17, Carter is 26th in NBA history with 1,274 games, 23rd with 41,336 minutes played, sixth with 1,937 3-pointers and 24th with 23,969 points.

Home/Toronto Raptors