The uncertainty around the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season forced Vince Carter into early retirement with the Atlanta Hawks, even if it was by a mere month before what many expected. The 22-year veteran, who turned 43 in January, teased that his career might not be completely over if the NBA allows for one last hurrah.

The “Delete Eight” still have an outside chance to play a Summer League-type tournament in a different bubble, but considering the costs and demand for infrastructure for relatively low payout, it could be just a hope.

Via HoopsHype:

“I’ll be there. If it happens, I’m gonna go out there, work with the guys … I don’t know . I don’t know, it’s a question mark,” said Carter during his podcast Wingin' It podcast on The Ringer. “But I’ve definitely will go out there and work out with the guys and just be a part of it. You know, I got to take advantage of that as long as I can. Because when it’s over, it’s over. So they’ve also extended me the opportunity to go out there, if it happens, to do whatever. And I just want to lend a hand.”

Carter isn't hoping to end his career in further glory. (He made his very last shot with the Hawks, a 3-pointer in the winding seconds of a March 11 game against the New York Knicks.) Instead, he's hoping to exhaust every bit of fuel in the tank before he calls it quits.

Nevertheless, the longtime veteran noted it's a hope that might not materialize, considering that a few teams are resisting the idea:

“From what I hear, there’s some guys out of the eight teams outside of the teams that don’t want to play either, but I’m like, well, guess what? You would have been playing in summer league right now anyway.”

If Carter makes a “Delete Eight” appearance, there won't be many that would complain. But one would be smart to not get those hopes up as the NBA navigates a tough financial stretch in the following months.