Toronto Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said Wednesday that Vince Carter could be back practicing with the team as early as Thursday and might play next week.

	Carter

Grunwald's comments were published in Thursday's Toronto Sun.

Carter, who left the Raptors' Nov. 2 game at Houston with a quadriceps tendon strain in his left knee, caught flak after appearing in an alleged jig with rap star Nelly in a concert at the Air Canada Centre on Monday -- the same night his teammates were outhustled and defeated in Atlanta, the Sun reported.

There have been suggestions that the All-Star forward should not be cavorting on stage when he is injured and his teammates are playing elsewhere. Grunwald's response to the incident was typically low key, the Sun reported; the GM said that if he had a choice he would have attended the concert, given how uninspired his troops looked against the Hawks.

Grunwald also told the newspaper that guard Lindsey Hunter, who has a sore right knee, and center Nate Huffman, who has not played this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, also could be back practicing as early as Thursday.

As soon as one of the injured players is ready to play, however, Grunwald will have to make a decision on what to do with center Greg Foster and guard Jermaine Jackson, players brought in on the NBA hardship exemption rule.

Jackson, a guard, signed with the team Wednesday.

Center Mamadou N'diaye, who has missed the past three games with a stress fracture in his right heel, will remain on the Raptors' active roster.

Carter, Hunter and Huffman remain on the active roster. Forward Lamond Murray and centers Hakeem Olajuwon and Eric Montross are on the injured list.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.