http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/109548873873860.xml Carter/Davis deal bad for Hornets Saturday, September 18, 2004 John DeShazier Uh-uh. That's the best answer that can be given to any thought of a Baron Davis-for-Vince Carter swap. Trades are about trying to obtain equal value for the player being peddled, and sending Davis from the Hornets to Toronto for Carter has all the makings of a steal for the Raptors. So, despite fan forums and discussions in local bars, such a consideration isn't even a blip on the radar screen for the Hornets. Of course, it sounds sexy. Both of the All-Stars are disgruntled. Davis hasn't gone as far as Carter in his demands, saying through his agent that he feels the Hornets have not done enough to win in the Western Conference and a trade might be an option. Carter has outright declared he wants out of Toronto. Considering the players' star power, a one-for-one deal is a natural in the NBA rumor mill. And since the NBA requires total salaries in a deal come close to matching, it's one of the few deals the two teams could make and win league approval. Carter is one of the marquee attractions in the league, a highlight waiting to happen. Davis isn't far behind. He might not be as well-known, but anyone who understands the game knows the kind of commodity Davis is as a premier point guard/scorer, able to create scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates. But the Hornets still are better off with a less-than-happy Davis than an ecstatic Carter. Because as great as Carter is and can be, his name and the word "reliable" are not often mentioned in the same sentence. The only time you hear the word "toughness" connected to Carter is when someone is talking about his lack of it. And he has skipped out of the leadership role in Toronto as vehemently as Davis appears to have passed on it in New Orleans. Their play still has been brilliant, often bordering on superb. They just seem to have no interest in taking over when it comes to being the voice, face and conscience of a franchise. But at least Davis will shake off minor, and sometimes major, injuries in order to show up for work. He'll wrap it, bandage it, soak it, have surgery on it, place a sleeve on it, ice it down or whatever else needs to be done in order to suit up and play. He won't shrink from the moment, no matter the size of the game, and no one can accuse him of doing otherwise. Davis' shot selection can be criticized, his maturity can be questioned, the counsel he receives can be pilloried. But his heart, desire and toughness stack up favorably against anyone's in the league. Full speed, three-quarters speed or half-speed, Davis rarely disappoints as a player. Meanwhile, Carter has had more questions surrounding his heart than the tin man. He hops off the court with an injury that sounds minor, and it takes him three weeks or a couple of months to return. He tweaks something, and if he doesn't immediately have to shut down, he doesn't seem to last more than a week or so. You wait for him to use all that ability to strap his team to his back and carry it for more than two or three games, and he buckles under the burden. Davis can create the highlight stuff, but just as well, he can be the reason a teammate is a highlight. Great point guards can't be created and rarely can they be replaced -- unless, of course, it's by another very-good-to-great point guard. Sure, Carter for Davis sounds like a decent fit, sounds sexy, sounds like the kind of star-for-star deal in which each team wins. But it would be a bad deal.. Carter for Davis? Uh-uh. . . . . . . . John DeShazier can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3410. --

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