Instead of taking his shots on the way out of town last summer, former Raptor Keon Clark snuck up on Vince Carter and torched his ex-teammate this weekend.

Clark, who wanted to remain with Toronto when he became a free agent, told the Sacramento Bee that the injured superstar isn't willing to work to become an elite player and suggested the Raptors are better without him.

"(Carter) wants the recognition, but he isn't willing to work for it," Clark said in an interview published in Sunday's editions of the newspaper. "I remember someone asking (Carter) who was the best player in the NBA. He said, 'It could be me.' That's all you need to know. 'It could be me.'

"He would talk about it. It takes initiative."

Carter hasn't played since Dec. 8 -- a span of 24 games through Sunday -- because of a knee injury and remains listed as day-to-day. He has played only 10 games. The Raptors were 8-25 before Sunday's game against the Hornets, two games out of the Central Division cellar.

Because of self-imposed financial restrictions, team-chemistry questions and off-court concerns, the Raptors chose not to pursue Clark last offseason. The center/forward was devastated and ended up signing with the Sacramento Kings.

Clark told the Bee he felt vindicated when the Raptors went 12-2 down the stretch without Carter last season to make the playoffs. When asked if the Raptors could be an elite team with Carter as their key player, he replied: "You tell me."

"What happened last season when he was in and when he was out? That summed it up."