Is the Vince Carter signing being overlooked?

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In a summer that has been headlined by the return of LeBron James to Cleveland, it is easy to forget about the other 29 teams in the NBA, especially small market teams like the Memphis Grizzlies. When people outside of Memphis do talk about the Grizzlies, talk usually revolves around Zach Randolph staying in Memphis and the future of Marc Gasol. However, nobody is talking about Vince Carter’s arrival on Beale Street and the potential impact that he can have on this Grizzlies team. In my opinion, the signing of Vince Carter is being grossly overlooked and neglected.

While it is true that Vince Carter is turning 38 years old in January and is entering his 17th season in the NBA, he still has a lot to offer the Grizzlies. His three-point percentage last season was 39.4% which is much better than most players on the Grizzlies. With Mike Miller gone, Carter’s ability to knock down the three ball will be really helpful for this Grizzlies team since spreading the floor gives Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol more room to work with in the paint. By adding Carter, the Grizzlies now have a solid three-point shooting trio which also features Courtney Lee and Jordan Adams.

In addition to his ability to be a three-point threat, Carter brings veteran experience to the Grizzlies and also gives them another player who is capable of coming through in clutch moments. Given that the Grizzlies took the Thunder to a Game 7 last season in the playoffs, the Grizzlies aren’t a team that is in major need of change. They just need to tweak the roster to give Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Mike Conley more support. I personally think that Vince Carter is a perfect addition to give them the support that they need because of the reasons I just mentioned. It helps the Grizzlies’ “Big Three” to know that if any of them have an off night, Vince Carter is there to give them extra support and help off the bench.

Lastly, Vince Carter is still hungry for a championship. Vince Carter has accomplished a lot in his career, but he hasn’t ever won an NBA championship. He would love to end his career with a title, and the fact that he ended up on the Grizzlies indicates that he must think he can win a title in Memphis. His hunger for a ring and his belief that the Grizzlies can win a title is probably what makes him most valuable to this team. The team has the pieces to beat anybody in the Western Conference, but sometimes you wonder if the belief is there. If Vince Carter can get the rest of the guys on the team to believe that they can become champions, then his arrival could be what propels the franchise to its first NBA championship.

In conclusion, Vince Carter’s arrival in Memphis is a great thing for the Grizzlies and does a lot more good than people realize. His style of play is what the team needs and his attitude is what the team needs. I can guarantee that if the Grizzlies win the NBA championship in 2015, Vince Carter will have played a big role in the team’s run to a championship. As a matter of fact, I actually believe that if the Grizzlies want to win the NBA championship in 2015, they have to get quality production from Vince Carter.