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To those familiar with sports economics, two terms come to mind when witnessing such a decline in play following the signing of a long-term contract: shirking and strategic effort. The former refers to the expending of effort at a rate below a player's potential, while the latter explains that players will only perform to a level reflective of their full capabilities at specific, economically strategic instances, such as prior to a contract extension.

In Carter's case both concepts were dually supported, and it became clear that the faltering Raptors had better meet the recent trade demands of the disgruntled Carter or be forced to suffer more sabotage, like the infamous Seattle game where Carter allegedly told Ray Allen what play was going to be run, just to have it botched in a one-point loss.

While terms like shirker may apply, fans in Toronto found another word that they found to be more accurately descriptive of all the whining and dramatics personified by a player who was once embraced with the name Air Canada; we call him a bitch.

By this point, what was once love had transformed into disdain, and obliging Carter's request appeared the only option (this was before team's just refused to play players until buying them out cheap). The only problem was that Carter's strategic effort had negatively affected his trade value to the point that all Rob Babcock could manage to net in return was Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a draft pick that became Joey Graham; in other words, nothing.

When McGrady left, following the 2000-01 season I remember feeling betrayed. I couldn't relinquish the memory of feeling like it was unfair. The Raptors had found McGrady like a needle in a haystack and patiently nurtured his abilities to the point where it was obvious that they were about to burst into something very special, only to lose him to Orlando, while receiving nothing in return.

But "unfair" does nothing to describe what Vince Carter did to the Toronto fans; it doesn't even scratch the surface. At least McGrady knew better than to take the Raptors' money if he wasn't going to show up, and at least Alonzo Mourning (who technically came over in the Vince Carter-to-the-Nets swap) knew better than to show up at all if he wasn't going to work hard.

To the average onlooker watching their first game at the ACC with Carter back in town, the booing may seem excessive, but I hope it never ends. It's important to remind ourselves both of the love and of the betrayal, it's important to remind him that his actions were unacceptable, and it acts as a salute to the franchise's turning point. Trading Vince Carter was the best thing that ever happened to the Toronto Raptors; they distanced themselves from a proven cancer and it gave the fans, myself included, the opportunity to move on.

As for the Nets, where are they now? They went from a perennial finals contender to the worst team in the entire league, finally trading Carter to Orlando for a subpar exchange in Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston (and they even had to give up Ryan Anderson in the process).

Now the Magic, who competed in the Finals just last year have been characterized by inconsistent play of late and are beginning to mount losses despite numerous experts heralding the Carter acquisition as one of the most significant pickups league wide.

The thing to remember about Carter is that it's not that he can't be a great two-way player, he just simply chooses not to, and it's infectious. His ability to hit big shots and perform aerial feats that make Sports Center announcers giddy has created the mirage that he's a winner, while those who frequent his antics know that the balance between good and evil is so delicate that it will imminently shift to unfavourable sooner than later.

After leaving traces of strategic effort on the prime of great players like Jason Kidd and now potentially Dwight Howard, Raptors fans can find comfort in the fact that at least even Rob Babcock knew enough to ship Carter away before Chris Bosh suffered the same fate. There's no coincidence that you don't find him anywhere in the NBA's new determination and leadership ads.

It seems only fitting that the very team who stole McGrady from us back then is now forced to endure Vince Carter's strategic effort; his injuries and bullshit on a nightly basis.

When the Raptors parted ways with Vince Carter it was addition by subtraction and now in Orlando Stan Van Gundy is beginning to realize the irony of it all. In acquiring Carter this past summer, his team gave a brand new home to the antithesis of the winner his brother Jeff spoke of so long ago.

Payback's a bitch.

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