What to Do with Vince Carter?

Vince Carter has always been an enigma. He's talented and athletic, but can you build a team around him? Can he lead a team to a championship? Is his individual talent good enough to get him to the Hall of Fame?

Another problem arises involving Carter. What will the Nets do with him?

When Carter was brought over to the Nets, he had a great supporting cast around him with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. Carter was going be their savior, completing a team that was about to see the lottery.

Three years later, the Nets figured their window of opportunity passed. Kidd and Jefferson were removed from the equation in trades, where cheap young talent was received.

The Nets seem to have set their goals on LeBron James's magical offseason of 2010, making cap room their top priority.

Carter's deal expires after 2011. It is strange that the Nets have not shopped him more actively.

In the 2010-2011 season, the Nets will have a payroll of about $33 million. They also have options on Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez, Sean Williams, and Ryan Anderson. If all those options are used, the payroll will be about $44 million.

Yi and Lopez were both top 10 picks and are pivotal parts of the rebuilding process. Williams has regressed since his rookie year, but his high defensive potential could result in his option use if he pans out. Anderson should still be there, showing excellent range and shot selection in his rookie year.

But, let's say their payroll going into the offseason of 2010 is $44 million. While that's still more than enough to sign LeBron, they may only have seven players signed for that time, eight if you include James.

Teams will give up an arm and a leg to get LeBron and the Nets seem more prepared to get him than almost anyone. However, LeBron would raise that payroll to about $74 million, close to the luxury tax.

After that, the Nets would have to acquire at least five more players. While those players may be cheap, will what they have now be enough to persuade LeBron? Other expensive role players may be necessary for a satisfactory supporting cast.

It is possible to sign LeBron and retain Carter, but the Nets may be better off parting ways with Carter, completing a firesale, which ridded Carter of the other great players around him.

Trading Carter would bring $17.3 million off the books. For those who can't do math, the Nets payroll would be about $27 million.

Carter has not lived up to his contract. His field goal percentage is his lowest in eight years. He has had to rely more on shooting than athleticism. Plus on defense, he has defended with his hands, resulting in a lot of fouls.

Swingmen who drive to the hoop as frequently as Carter used to can lose a step earlier than most. The Nets might want to trade Carter before teams feel he's declined too much.

In the past days, we have seen stars such as Chauncey Billups, Jamal Crawford, and Zach Randolph traded because of their longterm deals interfering with LeBron's offseason. Carter is tradeable.

The Nets are in a rebuilding process where they won't contend until at least two years from now. Will Carter be an elite player two years from now?

Carter is taking up cap space right now and his possible decline makes it possible that he won't be a worthy cornerstone of the Nets in two years.

It seems unlikely that Carter will help the Nets win any games. He would be best suited for a contender. His value is low, but the Nets need his contract off the books to make a run at LeBron in 2010.