Carter trade still talk of the town in Toronto

TORONTO — Four days after the trade, Friday's deal sending All-Star Vince Carter from Toronto to New Jersey still was the talk of the town here.

In Tuesday's Toronto Star sports section, Carter was front-page news.

The whole front page.

One Star reporter and another from Canadian TV even followed Carter to South Carolina, where he attended Nets practice.

The swap of Carter for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams and Aaron Williams remains the subject of great debate.

"New Jersey gets the better deal," analyst Greg Anthony said on a recent ESPN NBA Shootaround. "Toronto didn't get the types of players that are going to 'make' their roster. You need to have a superstar that these guys can come in and complement. They don't have that potential type of player."

"Toronto got the better end of the deal because, I think, when you look at Vince Carter, this guy is not going to command those kind of players in return anymore," countered ex-Jazz guard Tim Legler, also an ESPN NBA analyst. "His market value is down around the league. Nobody is going to give up much for a guy like Vince Carter. Toronto knew that. He wasn't happy there. (Raptors coach) Sam Mitchell didn't want him, and he doesn't have the market value that he used to have. He hasn't had it in a few seasons."

Mourning still has not reported to Toronto, and perhaps never will.

Both Aaron Williams, a forward who played six games for Utah in the 1993-94 season, and Eric Williams made their Raptor debuts Monday in Houston and are expected to dress when the Jazz visit Toronto tonight.

KIRILENKO ON BIKE: Back in Utah, injured Jazz All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko has started working out on an exercise bike.

Kirilenko is said to be itching to increase rehab on his partially torn medial collateral knee ligament, and Jazz trainer Gary Briggs will decide just how much more Kirilenko can do after the team returns later this week to Salt Lake.

Out since hurting his knee Nov. 27 in San Antonio, Kirilenko did not accompany the team on an eight-day trip that started in Phoenix and ends tonight in Toronto. He remains weeks away from returning.

ARAUJO OUT: Raptors rookie and ex-BYU star Rafael Araujo was put on Toronto's injured list Dec. 17 with what the team calls "lower back spasms."

He is not eligible to come off the list in time for tonight's game.

DIGGING DONYELL: Ex-Jazz forward Donyell Marshall of Toronto continues to be linked with New Jersey and Miami in various trade rumors.

Marshall had a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double after coming off the bench to play a team-high 36 minutes Monday, and is averaging more than 11 points and six boards in 14 games since returning from the injured list Nov. 27.