Although the trade with New Jersey for Carter and power forward Ryan Anderson officially cost the Magic Courtney Lee, Tony Battie and Rafer Alston, it essentially also cost them any chance at re-signing Turkoglu, who becomes a free agent July 1.

The Magic gave up on signing Turkoglu late in June when they informed him and his agent that they were not interested in giving him the five-year, $50 million contract he will be seeking. When Turkoglu rejected a Magic extension of considerably less, they went shopping for someone else.

The found the Nets and Carter, who will become their late game, go-to guy that Turkoglu had been the last two seasons.

Unlike Turkoglu, though, Carter doesn't need a whole lot of help from a pick-and-roll to get his shot, or create shots for others. He is good enough to do it on his own. The question now will be how he fits into the mix with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson.

"Being able to play for a championship, like this team will, is something that every NBA player wants to do," Carter said. "I'm just coming to add to what they already have in place. I won't have a problem fitting in."