Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady were in attendance for the Raptors’ latest game against the Knicks. The two were impressed with the team’s efforts this season. McGrady said the Raptors could win a playoff series, and Carter praised Scottie Barnes, who is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
T-Mac thinks the Raptors could win a playoff series and VC interjects with some love for Barnes. “I want to give Scottie his flowers.” pic.twitter.com/n8Yw0akiue
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 4, 2026
“I want to give Scottie his flowers as well,” Carter told reporters. “It was his team for a long time. He was willing to sacrifice for the good of BI [Brandon Ingram] coming in, being himself, and look what it’s done. He still became an All-Star. He also brought another All-Star with him.”
For Raptors fans, it’s great to hear such high praise for one of their young stars from someone who was the face of the franchise many years ago. At the same time, however, the fact that Carter spoke about sacrificing for the good of the team right next to McGrady, who left the Raptors before they could fulfill their potential, makes the praise bittersweet.
Tracy McGrady left Toronto after three seasons
The Raptors drafted Tracy McGrady with the ninth overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft. A year later, they added Vince Carter in a draft-day trade with the Warriors. They still missed the playoffs in the duo’s first season together, but punched their ticket to the postseason just one year later. Despite a first-round loss, Carter and McGrady were emerging as a formidable duo known for its athleticsm.
With McGrady and Carter, the Raptors could have become a contender for years. Could have are the keywords here. McGrady left the team when he hit free agency, joining the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade deal in 2000.
There were several reasons for McGrady’s early exit. He cited internal problems in the Raptors organization and the desire to play for the hometown team he idolized growing up. It was also an opportunity for McGrady to get his own team and step out of Carter’s shadow in Toronto.
Once McGrady signed with the Magic, his stardom exploded. He made his first All-Star team and received multiple All-NBA honors. He was also named the Most Improved Player in 2001 and led the league in scoring twice.
For Raptors fans, the question will always be: What if McGrady hadn’t left? Could he and Carter have led the Raptors to a championship long before the franchise finally won its first title in 2019?