Carter: Raptors return 'has to be something the organization wants'

Vince Carter is still an unrestricted free agent after saying in June that he wants to play one more NBA season, and some are hoping he returns to where his career began - with the Toronto Raptors.

"It would be a cool situation," Carter said recently. "If the situation works, if that's something Toronto wants to do, obviously the fans ... kind of want that to happen. It has to be something the organization wants."

In 2017, Carter told theScore he wanted his career to end with the Raptors involved in some way.

"It'll happen I'm sure," Carter said at the time. "Somehow, whether it's (a one-day contract) or something, it'll happen. It's supposed to happen I think. I can say that now."

However, he balked at the idea of ring chasing, saying he preferred working with younger teammates on rebuilding teams - in that year's case the Sacramento Kings, and this past season with the Atlanta Hawks.

With the Raptors winning an NBA championship and the subsequent departure of Kawhi Leonard, Toronto appears poised to be both a second-tier contender and rebuilding in 2019-20. How Carter would fit in is unknown, but the Raptors' roster is currently full at 20 players, including two-way deals and Exhibit 10 contracts.

One NBA player who would evidently like to see Carter return north is Ontario native Jamal Murray, a member of the generation of young Canadian basketball players influenced by Carter's days with the Raptors from 1998-2004.

Carter turns 43 in January. If he signs with a team and makes its roster, he'll break the NBA record for most seasons (22) played in the league.