The NBA playoffs have officially come to an end for the Dallas Mavericks and Toronto Raptors after both teams were unable to capture a victory in Game 7 of their respective first-round series. Despite their first-round exits, the Raptors and Mavs played better than expected and could come back stronger next season with smarts moves made in the off-season.
The Raptors will have their work cut out for them trying to hold onto free-agent-to-be Kyle Lowry, while the Mavs attempt to re-sign Dirk Nowitzki and keep their core group together.
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One player that will become a free agent in Dallas that might be headed back to Toronto this summer is 37-year-old Vince Carter. After a solid performance in the series against the San Antonio Spurs, Carter has proven to have something left in the tank and the Raptors appear interested in bringing him back according to Marc Stein of ESPN:
Word is that the Raptors have been kicking around the idea of making a free-agent play this summer to try to bring Vince Carter “home” by trying to sign the former face of the franchise away from the Mavericks.
Be advised that Carter has been very happy in Dallas these past three seasons. Very happy. He’s emerged as the emotional leader of Dirk Nowitzki’s team at this late stage of his career and, by all accounts, wants to re-sign with Dallas.
Carter started his career in Toronto back 1998 and instantly made an impact. The high-fly act quickly became the face of the franchise for the Raptors while turning into a legitimate superstar.
After six years in Toronto, Carter was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 2004 to play alongside Jason Kidd. Carter bounced around quite a bit after being traded once again on draft day in 2009 to the Orlando Magic.
Not until Carter signed with the Mavs back in 2011 after a short stint with the Phoenix Suns did the veteran start to show signs of the dominant player of old. Carter has never been able to replicate his form from his days in Toronto, but has played an important role in Dallas alongside Nowitzki and company.
A return to Toronto in the twilight of his NBA career would be fitting, but the veteran guard/forward seems to have found a home in Dallas and could re-sign with the team rather than return to the Raptors.
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