After going undrafted in the
1998 NBA draft, he began his NBA career with the
Miami Heat, after having spent one season with
CBA's
Yakima Sun Kings. In 2003, Carter's agent failed to notify the Heat that Carter wished to exercise a $4.1 million player option on his contract by the June 30 deadline. The failure allowed the team to renounce their rights to Carter, opening up cap space that was later used to sign
Lamar Odom. He was waived by the team on August 29, and re-signed two days later. On December 20, 2007, Carter hit a runner in the lane with 0.8 seconds left in double
overtime against the
Houston Rockets, which gave the Nuggets a 112–111 win. In
that season, he recorded individual records in most statistical categories, averaging a career-high 8 ppg, while starting all but three of the games he appeared in. On July 1, 2008, Carter became a
free agent, but re-signed with
Denver in October. On August 14, 2009, the Nuggets again re-signed Carter to a one-year contract for $1.3 million. On July 14, 2010, he re-signed with the Nuggets to a one-year contract worth $1.3 million. On February 22, 2011, Carter was traded to the
New York Knicks in a three-way deal which also involved the
Minnesota Timberwolves that brought
Carmelo Anthony to New York. Considered a throw-in in the trade, Carter forever cemented his place in Knicks lore when he nearly singlehandedly rallied New York to a playoff victory in an elimination game against the
Boston Celtics on April 24, 2011. Carter substituted into the game with the Knicks trailing by 23 and brought life back to the Garden by suffocating
Rajon Rondo on defense, scoring 11 points, and dishing four dimes. However, the Knicks' comeback bid ultimately fell short. On December 12, 2011, Carter signed with the
Toronto Raptors. He was waived by the Raptors on March 15, 2012. In October 2012, he re-joined the Nuggets for their training camp, but did not make the team's final roster. ==Coaching career==