Fri, Dec 17, 2004 at 12:00am

VINCE HEADS TO JERSEY

The New Jersey Nets acquired guard Vince Carter from the Toronto Raptors for center Alonzo Mourning, center-forward Aaron Williams, forward Eric Williams and two first-round draft picks.

What does it give the New Jersey Nets
The star wingman Jason Kidd has needed since Kenyon Martin left. Like Martin did, Carter should blossom filling the lane on the break with the cagey Kidd feeding him, potentially jump-starting the jumping legend's career. It will be interesting to see whether the still-young (27) Carter still has enough left in his beat-up body and psyche to regain the electric ferocity he displayed going to the hoop his first few years. The Nets had little to lose and everything to gain with this deal--and they indeed lost little--but may have added a superstar, a playoff berth and the chance to keep Jason Kidd from bolting to another team all at once. This was a heist.

What does it give the Toronto Raptors
More proof that Toronto can't--or won't--do what's necessary to win. This deal was further validation that new GM Rob Babcock isn't the answer for the Raptors off the court--because on the court, the throw-away players he received for a superstar like Carter certainly aren't the answer, either. Mourning is barely a shadow of his one-time intimidating self--he's aging, broken-down, and playing with a transplanted kidney. Williams and Williams are the most average of NBA players and, while the Raps pick up two future first-round draft picks, what will they do with them? Babcock used this year's seventh overall selection on 'Big Country' Rafael Araujo, who makes current center Loren Woods look like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This is akin to former GM Glen Grunwald mortgaging the future on Hakeem Olajuwon, who did almost nothing for Toronto. This will likely go down as the worst deal in Raptors history.

Fantasy impact