Miami ? The Toronto Raptors knew they couldn’t get a superstar in return for Vince Carter, once a superstar himself but now an exposed, over-hyped one-dimensional player.

So instead of getting quality in return for Carter, they settled for a quality. They traded Carter to the Nets and got toughness in return.

That’s toughness, the characteristic the Raptors have lacked since Charles Oakley injected the Toronto franchise with it in the 2000-01 season. Oakley almost had enough to take the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, but Carter fought off just enough of it to miss a last-second shot against the 76ers in the decisive game of that second-round series.

In trading Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two first-round picks, the Raptors suddenly become formidable again in the Eastern Conference, giving coach Sam Mitchell a lot less to rant about.

Eric Williams will be a welcome addition to the Raptors because he is a defensive-minded forward who can play two frontcourt spots and has an offensive game that keeps him near the rim. Carter occasionally would fly by the rim, but only if there was no one in his way and he could twirl a few times on his way there.

Even if Mourning doesn’t play a minute in Toronto, which is possible given his health and his disinterest in playing in Canada, the team has improved itself inside tremendously.

Aaron Williams provides a tenacity and athleticism inside that can give the Raptors the proper balance a team led by Jalen Rose desperately needs.

The Raptors need more inside than Loren Woods has offered, and it was clear Chris Bosh was overmatched when occasionally slid to the center position.

In fact, while it might seem like the trade signifies just how much Carter’s stock has fallen during the past few years, the Raptors actually got a steal in this transaction. Even if Mourning’s health concerns keep him from playing much longer or very effectively, the two first-round picks help ease that loss, especially considering the Nets will be a middle-of-the-road team at best until the organization moves to Brooklyn, making those draft picks relatively high.

The boost from ridding itself of Carter should be obvious for Toronto, as his Raptors teammates privately couldn’t wait for him to be traded so the team could take on a different persona.

The Nets shouldn’t feel robbed, however. They didn’t necessarily improve themselves by adding an oft-injured, Western Conference style player who happens to play the same position as their budding All-Star Richard Jefferson.

But at least they picked up a player who, for some reason, is a fan favorite and can sell tickets. They also picked up another excuse as they try to explain to Jason Kidd why they didn’t trade him this season.

“I hope he stays,” Nets owner Bruce Ratner said of Kidd. “My senses are that everyone wants to keep him.”

It’s probably not fair to write off Carter and the Nets just yet. If Kidd has proven anything in his time in New Jersey, it’s that he can turn an athletic player into a star with his passing and up-tempo style.