Was Vince Carter more of a hero or villain for Toronto Raptors fans?

A new chapter?

Nearly a decade separated the day of the Carter trade – Dec. 17, 2004 – and the night that he finally received cheers at the Air Canada Centre again – Nov. 19, 2014. Fans would continue to cheer Carter during every game he played in Toronto for the rest of his career.

As much as Carter’s exit hurt, and as hard as it was to watch him burn his old team over and over, Carter was far removed from his prime by that point. The Raptors were coming off their best regular season in franchise history, making the playoffs in 2014 for the first time in six years. The ‘We the North’ era had begun, and it seemed promising.

For many fans, it was time to let go of the franchise’s past demons. Maybe they wouldn’t forget but forgiveness seemed reasonable.

It’s easy to see why. Many of the younger fans – this 20-year-old writer included – can’t remember first-hand Carter’s time with the Raptors and the ugly falling out, even if they’ve heard or read all the stories. It’s a lot worse to live through something and to remember how miserable it was, rather than just knowing about it.

Not everyone feels that way, though. The Carter debacle cuts deep into many of the insecurities that persist in Raptors fans to this day – at least, before the championship run.

So, where does that leave Carter? Is he ultimately more of a hero or villain?