Sacramento sends veteran Guard Doug Christie to The Orlando Magic in exchange for Cuttino Mobley who boasts a career 17 PPG average and Michael Bradley. Here are some quotes and reactions from the day that was, as we say our final goodbyes to Doug Christie, a true King in Arco. Kings President of Basketball Operations, GEOFF PETRIE "I think it was a great opportunity to get a player like Cuttino who can really score and break people down defensively," said Geoff Petrie, Kings president of basketball operations, in a news release. "We just thought it was an opportunity going forward to really get better. In Doug we're giving up a very proven performer, who we've all had a great relationship with here. He's been part of some of the most exciting times this franchise has had." 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." "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." Sacramento Head Coach, RICK ADLEMAN "It?s a tough, tough day for me because Doug has been a big part of our success since he?s been here. It is going to leave a big void but sometimes you have to make deals to try and help the team. It came unexpected and I wish him well.? ?Cuttino gives us a lot of offense. He?s a great shooter, he can break defenses down, and he gives us something we don?t have on our team. Hopefully he?s able to fit into our system and we?ll be able to do things for him with the other players that we have that will help him.? Orlando GM, JOHN WEISBROD "We felt that Doug was a perfect fit for the chemistry of our team right now," Orlando general manager John Weisbrod said. "He's a tremendous passer and defender, he's accustomed to playing in an up-tempo offense and he brings valuable playoff experience." Newly Aquired Kings Guard, CUTTINO MOBLEY I'm sad," Mobley said at halftime. "I don't know what the situation was. Maybe they were scared I wouldn't sign back. ... I wasn't saying I would have opted out." Mobley said the Kings look like "they enjoy playing the game." "They look like a fun team," he said. "That's what basketball is about, having fun." Feel free to post any additional quotes, surely more will be released in the hours to come, from players and office figures alike. Use this thread to our benefit, lets keep it up to date with lots of breaking information on this shocking transaction. - Thanks X3
Here's a transcription of the FINAL "Doug Christie Show', a radio program Christie regularly called into at KHTK Sports 1140 to take part in. Just thought this may interest some of you... Grant: ?We are joined now by the consummate professional, the classiest of a guy you will meet, and we are talking of course about Doug Christie. D.C., listen bud, there is no good way to say it, we?re going to miss you around here bud. Thanks for coming on. Give us your thoughts now that you?ve had 24 hours to digest the news. Doug: ?Man, first of all, we would like to thank all the fans from my family and myself. It?s been a great run. Man Grant, when it hit me, it was out of the blue. But now that you?ve got a chance to sit back and think, the first thing that comes to mind is that it?s a business. You?ve got to understand that and you understand that when you sign up. The Maloof family and the Kings, they have just been fantastic. And we don?t have anything but good things to say about our experience here. It?s been fantastic, we?ve accomplished a lot?didn?t quite reach the goal that we wanted to, but I think the experience lends itself to some pretty good times in peoples minds. So, like I said, it was unfortunate that it caught me at an awkward time but the first thing that goes thought your mind is your family and kids?they?re in school and all that type of stuff. Then you kinda get sad because you go back to all the good times you had in your mind, but at the same time you?ve got to understand because it?s a business. I think Geoff and the Maloofs have made good decisions in the past, unfortunately we won?t get to enjoy it with everybody, but we have to go on and be what we are?professionals, loving people, caring about our family and just keep moving on.? Mike: You said that Geoff and the Maloofs make good decisions, how good was the decision to sign Greg Ostertag to this team? Doug: ?I think there was a void, you know, and when there is a void you have to try and fill it. You know, Vlade meant a lot to this team, but at the same time you have to add the pieces that you see at a particular time that are going to bring what you need to the team. And in those meetings I?m sure that they discussed all the different things and made the decisions that were best for the team. They?ve always been class people and a class organization to my family and myself from day one, and those are the types of things that we?re going to remember? Greg Ostertag (suddenly jumping on the air): ?But what about, how did you like the guy, was he a good guy or?? Doug: ?I hear him now Grant, that piece of crap (laughing). Actually, he was one of my favorites, he was actually one of my wife?s favorites.? Greg Ostertag: ?Dang right!? Doug: ?He was always funny, always the same, and we enjoyed that." Greg: ?shoot, I knew I wasn?t going to get a chance to talk to you, so, man, I just wanted to say that it was cool hanging out with you when I got to know you. I didn?t used to like you, I got to be honest. I didn?t like you much at all.? Doug: ?But you know what? That poses good because you were trying to get me to gamble my money away and I kept it in my pocket.? Greg: ?You know that, you two still owe me going out on the town one night, so I won?t forget that.? Grant: ?Well they?ll be in town next month so you can take them up on that.? Greg: ?I got another tear when they told me they traded you like I did the other night in New Orleans. Well have a good time, we?ll see you on down the road, alright bud.? Doug: ?Always big fella.? Greg: ?All right Dougie, tell your wife I said hey.? Grant: ?You know Doug, you?ve been through this a number of times and so you?re right that you say it?s a business. You mentioned some of the special moments here, what?s the one thing you take from Sacramento when you look back, and maybe you?ll be on the plane tomorrow, but you?ll say, ?That?s the thing I liked best about Sacramento.? Doug (voice shaking): ?You know, it would probably be game seven even though it didn?t work out.? Grant: ?You talking about game seven of the Lakers?? Doug: ?Yeah?Man there are so many times, I can?t even tell you. Webb came by and I was telling him the first time I knew that I was in a crazy situation was when I came down the floor, and Jason Williams had the ball and I was running with him?he passes me the ball, and all at once as he passes it, and I?m at the three point line and all this is going through my mind, I?m thinking I?m gonna catch it and I?m gonna make a move, and he yells, ?Shoot it!? And I shot it and made it and said, ?You know what, this is alright with me!?? Grant: ?In that bell West accent. You?d almost have to know Jason for the fans out there listening, I can almost hear it.? Doug: ?It made me smile and I thought, this is fantastic.? Mike: ?Doug, how great is it to think about the fact that you won?t be forgotten by Kings fans. Because you know how it is with this city, when somebody leaves, they don?t really leave. Everybody still talks about the guys that were here and were very productive. You saw what happened when Vlade left and when Vlade came back. How important is that going to be to you that Kings fan?s are going to hold you in their heart?? Doug: ?Man, in a business like this, that could just well be the biggest thing that happens in your career?(breaks down and puts the phone down).? Grant: ?Well, and you?ll be back next month Doug, and I?m telling you, we?ve been on this show yesterday for three hours and today and I haven?t heard one bad thing about you. People have been looking at the websites and stuff and fans are going to miss you. That doesn?t even mean whether or not it was a good trade or not, most people understand that it?s something that will take time. Everybody that we?ve talked to said they?re going to miss Doug Christie, that?s got to make you feel good.? Doug: ?(softly)Yeah?? Mike: ?It?s kind of an emotional thing isn?t it? Jackie Christie: ?You guys, I?m sorry, he?s alittle emotional right now?he just handed me the phone. It?s a real trying time, and I just want to say that the fans and everyone here have been fantastic. It hurts our heart, but we understand. And we?re just going to go, and Orlando will be our new place, but Sacramento is really our home.? Grant:: ?Jackie, we?re going to have a great tribute on our television show tonight, I hope you guys can check that out?? Jackie: ?Ok, well we?re going to watch and we pray for you guys to have much success and god bless everyone and all the fans.?
that is the show that I listen to on the way home from work every day. I was able to catch that interview & you could tell by the sound in his voice that he was pretty choked up about it I am really going to miss his weekly interviews that he did on that show. Christie was one of the most well spoken and knowledgable players I have ever heard & it was great to listen to his take on things not just about the Kings, but the NBA in general on a week in week out basis. one last tidbit on this topic... for those of you who dont have a chance to listen to this show... since the trade 80% of the callers called in to say how much they are going to miss Christie. there was MUCH love for him in Sac... anyone that has seen the standing ovations given to any former member of the Kings (such as Vlade, Pollard and Barry) when they come back after moving to a new team get ready to watch when the magic come into Sac next month.... It will probably be the biggest such show of appriciation you have seen yet. For those interested, DC's webiste can be found at http://www.dconethree.com/ not a lot there right now, the site is being redesigned, but you can send email to DC from there.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Doug Christie back playing for The Kings when his contract runs out in two years, if his health allows him to continue to play. Afterall, the town of Sacramento loves him and that feeling is obviously mutual, it would be the perfect way for DC to end his career if he'd accept a veteran's minimum.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James X3:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't be surprised to see Doug Christie back playing for The Kings when his contract runs out in two years, if his health allows him to continue to play. Afterall, the town of Sacramento loves him and that feeling is obviously mutual, it would be the perfect way for DC to end his career if he'd accept a veteran's minimum.</div> I would not be surprised to see him back as an assistant coach along with Divac. how cool would that be?
