Did the Toronto Raptors fail Chris Bosh?

Trading Vince Carter

Trading away Vince Carter, or rather dumping him for a pittance set back what would become the Chris Bosh era by several years.

The most curious part of Rob Babcock’s trade with the New Jersey Nets was not that he traded in his own division. Rather it was that he admitted that it was always his intention to buy out the contract of Alonzo Mourning (at a price that turned out to be $10 million). Alonzo would later sign with the Miami Heat and donate his veteran’s minimum contract to charity.

The other pieces of the deal were two first round picks, Eric Williams, and Aaron Williams. Unfortunately for the Toronto Raptors both of these players were past their expiration dates. Eric Williams had a strong season in 1997-1998 but had been nothing more than a 12.6 points per game player since then. They averaged 4.0 and 1.6 points per game respectively as members of the Toronto Raptors.

What makes the trade even more lopsided is the fact that the Raptors ended up trading one of those picks away to as the price tag of ridding themselves of the Jalen Rose contract. Antonio Davis was waived was also.

Luckily the Knicks whiffed with the pick and selected Renaldo Balkman. With that said, Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry were still on the board. The other pick was used on Joey Graham, instead of Danny Granger.

It is also impossible to discuss this tragic move without noting that Vince Carter has admitted that he asked to stay with the Toronto Raptors one day prior to the trade, but wanted to be on the second unit with Milt Palacio.

He had butted heads with Rafer Alston in his previous tenure with the team, and even though playing with him was untenable he was willing to try to find a way to make it work in the city that came to embrace him as their own. Rather than use this opportunity to look for a better deal, Babcock did the unthinkable.