Vince Carter wasn't available for Tuesday night's game at Denver and Wednesday's game at Portland because he's being sued by William "Tank" Black for breach of contract.

Legal proceedings were scheduled to begin Tuesday in Columbia, S.C., but the judge wasn't available, delaying the start for a day. Black, who was sent to prison for five years in 2002 for bilking about a dozen NFL players out of millions, is seeking $14 million from Carter. Carter is countersuing.

"The timing of this is unfortunate because I want to be with my teammates preparing for the season, but it's something I don't have control over," Carter said in a statement. "This has been an issue that has hung over my head for a number of years and I'm going to take care of it once and for all this week."

Carter hopes to return for Toronto's final preseason game against Cleveland on Friday.

Black was Carter's agent from June 1999 to March 2000. Carter cut ties with Black shortly after Black was charged. Black's clients included Fred Taylor, Ike Hilliard and Duce Staley.