Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Miami Heat make Anthony Carter is seeing a lot of green -- and greens -- these days.
AC their ace
The UH alumnus signs a
multi-million-dollar deal and
likely will start at the pointBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comCarter, the former All-American guard for the University of Hawaii, today signed a three-year contract worth $12.6 million with the Miami Heat.
And, according to his longtime mentor Llew Haden, Carter is also taking up a new sport: Golf.
"Anthony is working out every morning and had the afternoons free," Haden said yesterday in a phone call from Atlanta. "I suggested golf and he started playing. Now he's looking for a country club in Miami to take lessons."
It also appears that Carter's understudy days are over. The three-year commitment likely means that starting point guard Tim Hardaway won't be re-signed.
Hardaway, who has declined to comment on his free-agent status, has said that he would not play behind Carter.
Carter was unavailable for comment yesterday.
The 25-year-old Carter agreed to the deal in principle Monday and "there's still one or two details that need to be worked out, but conceptionally it's a done deal,'' said Haden. "The story is that Hardaway won't be back. In some ways, it would be better for AC to have one more year of learning, but it's also obvious that he's a different player when he's a starter as opposed to when he comes in for Tim."
The only other team that expressed interest in Carter was the Atlanta Hawks. There was potential for a match there since Carter is from the area and the Hawks need a playmaker.
Atlanta's offer "was for a cheeseburger and a beer.'' Haden said. "AC likes Miami and Miami likes him.''
Coach Pat Riley likes Carter as well and wanted to see him get more playing time. Riley often said last season how much better the second-year guard played with more minutes.
"It's a good fit," Carter's agent, Bill Duffy, told the Miami Herald yesterday. "We feel like AC has flourished under Pat. I am comfortable with the concept that unless there is a huge trade for (Seattle SuperSonics guard) Gary Payton or somebody like that, AC will get a chance to run the show."
Carter is not playing in any summer league but is planning to participate in a youth camp in Walnut Creek, Calif., next month.
Rainbows coach Riley Wallace wasn't sure if Carter would spend any time in Hawaii this summer. But Wallace expects a check from his former player to help endow a scholarship fund for the men's basketball program.
"We're very happy for AC," Wallace said yesterday. "This was the plan that his agent had. Sign for the minimum ($380,000) his rookie year, get an increase the second ($1.2 million). This is his reward for the hard work.
"I know Riley has always liked him and his work ethic. And the big guys like him because he thinks 'pass first.' "
Miami Heat