Magic trade Cuttino Mobely & Michael Bradley to the Kings for Doug Christie...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

BOSTON -- The Orlando Magic traded shooting guard Cuttino Mobley and backup center Michael Bradley to the Sacramento Kings tonight for Doug Christie.

The Magic have had defensive woes, and Mobley was a luxury in their high-scoring offense.

Christie, a 12-year veteran, is known as a defense specialist. He is, however, five years older than Mobley at 34.

Mobley, 29, had arrived with point guard Steve Francis and center Kelvin Cato in the Magic's blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets this summer, which sent star Tracy McGrady to Houston.

Magic General Manager John Weisbrod called Coach Johnny Davis shortly before the game and told him not to play Mobley because a deal was in the works. Veteran Stacey Augmon started at Mobley's shooting guard spot.

"We felt that Doug (Christie) was a perfect fit for the chemistry of our team right now," Weisbrod said in a statement released by the Magic. "He's a tremendous passer and defender, he's accustomed to playing in an up-tempo offense and he brings valuable playoff experience. Cuttino (Mobley) is a very difficult piece to give up – one of my favorite people – but we needed to use our depth at shooting guard to fill the areas in which we're deficient."

It had been speculated that if the Magic were to make a trade, Mobley was a likely choice. He can become a free agent after the 2005-06 season, and Orlando would likely have to pay him between $7-$8 million for his next contract.

"He's an athletic, all-around very skilled offensive two-guard that has been remarkably consistent in his production over his career," said Geoff Petrie, the Kings' president of basketball operations. "He's a terrific 3-point shooter that can break people down and get to the basket. He's a very exciting player, and I think he'll be an adequate defender."

Christie is also a free agent after the 2005-06 season. He has ranked among the NBA's top five in steals in seven of the last eight seasons and is the only player to rank in the top five in each of the past four seasons.

Mobley, 6 feet-4, 215 pounds, was the third-leading scorer on the team, averaging 16 points a game. He was averaging 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He played in 23 games, starting 21 of those for the Magic. He led the Magic and ranks fourth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.464, 58-of-125).

Christie, 6-6, 205, averaged 7.3 points and 4.9 assists in 31 starts for the Kings this season. Originally selected by Seattle in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft (17th overall), Christie has played in 792 career games with the L.A. Lakers, New York, Toronto and Sacramento.

Bradley, currently on the injured list, has received little playing time and wanted to move on to another team.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-spt-mobleytrade011005,0,210691.story?coll=orl-home-headlines


Damn, I honestly think that was an extremely stupid trade for Orlando...I mean, Cuttino is still in his prime, he added a nice, quick frount court to the Magic, along with Steve Francis...I dunno why the Magic would go on and do something like this, but it's crazy, especially cuz they were doing wonderful already...Christie is obviously way past his prime, and wont fit in with the Magic as much as Mobely did...Sacramento got the better of this deal.

[KING VerbalAssaulta]

i really dont understand this from orlando's standpoint...like NIK said mobley is in his prime...christie is old..unless it has some kind of salary cap ramifications involved..dumb trade

[The Big Bad Ass]

Yea I don't get it. Maybe Mobley approached orlando about a trade but kept it quiet. Makes no sense to me.

[7even]

Further proof of how underrated Mobley is. Why not trading Dirk for Bowen to improve Mavs Defense.

[Smooth]

LOL, what a joke trade for Orlando. Why would they do this? In the 2 games I watched Orlando play the Raps, Mobley was playing sweet both games, draining mad 3's. And believe it or not, Micheal Bradley is like a former 19th overall pick and can grab you some rebounds for sure. And what does Orlando get in return?. Doug Christie!!,LOLLOL, I still can't get over that, dude is WAY past his prime, I can't complain though it just makes another team in the east weaker and give the raptors a better chance to get in..

[On The Edge of Insanity]

This is one of our most dumbass trades ever. We may tighten up defensively a bit now, but scoring wise Mobley is going to leave a pretty big hole, and we lose the great relationship him and Francis had together offensively.