ESPN Insider's Chris Sheridan says that Raptors GM Rob Babcock, who was fired Thursday, could have pulled out of the Vince Carter trade a day later when Alonzo Mourning refused to report to Toronto. Babcock decided to go through with it anyway, wanting the two first-round picks the Nets dealt him, and the rest is history. Meanwhile in Toronto, Babcock is being blamed for, in the words of one sports writer, "trading Vince Carter for, so far, a bag of hammers".
- Babcock leaves lamentable legacy - Chris Sheridan - ESPN Insider
- Clueless ownership at heart of problem - Dave Perkins - Toronto Star
- Toronto Raptors axe general manager Rob Babcock after team's disappointing on-court performance, rumoured off-court tension - Robert MacLeod - Toronto Globe & Mail