Needing a veteran in a rebuilding locker room full of young players, the Hawks will sign the NBA’s eldest statesman. The Hawks agreed to terms with Vince Carter on a one-year, $2.4 million deal, the veteran minimum, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The 41-year-old Carter is entering his 21st NBA season. The NBA’s oldest active player, he is one of seven players in league history to play 20 or more seasons.
Carter, a 6-foot-6 guard, played last season with the Kings, where he appeared in 58 games and averaged 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
Carter was a first-round pick, No. 5 overall out of North Carolina in the 1998 NBA draft. He has played for the Raptors, Nets, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies and Kings in his illustrious career. He earned the nickname Vinsanity early his career for his highlight-worthy athleticism and dunking ability. Carter is an eight-time all-star with the honor coming in consecutive seasons from the 1999-2007 seasons.
Carter is also one of six players in league history to record 24,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 1,000 steals and 1,000 3-point field goals.
Last season, at 40 years, 46 days old, Carter became the oldest player to start an NBA game since Juwan Howard in 2013.
In his 20-year career, Carter averaged 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He averaged more than 20.0 points a game in 10 seasons. In addition to his all-star appearances, Carter was a two-time All-NBA player, won a gold medal in the 2002 Sydney Olympics, was Rookie of the Year in 1999 and NBA Slam Dunk champion in 2000.
In Carter, the Hawks believe they have a presence in which younger players will look up and listen to.
Carter is 12 years older than the oldest Hawks on the roster – 29 year old Kent Bazemore, Jeremy Lin and Miles Plumlee. He was drafted on June 24, 1998, before rookie first-round picks Trae Young and Kevin Huerter were born.
Also Wednesday, the Hawks agreed to terms with Daniel Hamilton. The forward, a second-round pick of the Nuggets in 2016, was with the Thunder last season on a two-way contract. He appeared in six games with the Thunder last season.
Neither agreement has been announced by the Hawks.
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