Could Anthony Carter Wind Up in Denver Once More Come 2011-12?

One NBA player currently a free agent is veteran point guard Anthony Carter. Carter spent last season with both the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks.

Carter took a hard road to the NBA as he quit high school at one point but worked towards his GED before playing college basketball at Hawai’i after transferring from a junior college. He entered the NBA in 1998 after going undrafted and spending one year playing for the Yakima Sun Kings of the Continental Basketball Association.

Carter began his NBA career playing for the Miami Heat, where he spent four years before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003 as a free agent. However, his tenure in San Antonio was rather short as he appeared in only five games before suffering an injury. The Spurs released Carter as they were allowed to based on the language contained in his contract he signed during free agency. As a result, Carter sat out the remainder of the 2003-04 season.

Carter did spend two seasons in Minnesota from 2004 to 2006 but was not much of a contributor. Carter spent part of the following season playing in Europe, but was signed by the Denver Nuggets toward the end of the 2006-07 NBA season.

Carter finally got another opportunity to show his skills as he averaged a career-high 7.8 points and 5.5 assists per game during the 2007-08 NBA season, prompting the Nuggets organization to think about keeping him in town for much longer than previously planned. The Nuggets did re-sign Carter to a short-term contract in 2008, and once again in 2009.

Before the 2010-11 NBA season, the Nuggets once more re-signed Carter as he became a favorite of head coach George Karl, who felt that his leadership on the floor and in the locker room was important to the growth of Carmelo Anthony and other players on the team. Carter did not do as much scoring as he did in 2007-08, but became an important all-around player for the team.

He was later traded to the New York Knicks in a three-team trade also involving the Minnesota Timberwolves, which sent Anthony amongst others to the Knicks.

In New York Carter was not actively involved right after the trade, but due to injuries was called on to spot minutes at the point guard spot. Carter went on to average 4.4 points in 16.3 minutes played while appearing in a total of 19 games with the Knicks.

Carter has been able to carve out a long NBA career, especially after being given the opportunity to play in Denver, and may find himself in Denver possibly, or in New York as he would be a good third point guard to have on the roster if injuries do occur.