Babcock confirmed most of the story to Tim and Sid Wednesday afternoon, however, he said the trade had already been verbally agreed upon before he and Mitchell spoke.
“The deal had already been done. We had already agreed to do the deal,” Babcock said.
The paperwork had not been submitted to the league offices but Babcock said that he had given his word.
“We had verbally agreed to do a deal and once I verbally agree to do a deal, it’s done,” Babcock added.
Mitchell later defended Babcock and Tanenbaum.
“In Rob Babcock’s defence, and even Mr. Tanenbaum’s, would they have even believed Vince?” Mitchell continued. “Because he had been so egregious in his statements that he wanted to be traded and they had tried and tried again to persuade him not to want to leave. So you have to ask yourself, would they have believed? It was easier for me because I was there with him and I wanted him to stay, so I might have believed anything.”
On Dec. 18, 2004, the Raptors dealt Carter to the Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and a pair of first-round draft picks. Mourning did not report to Toronto.