ESPN: Mobley hoping to find his stride with Kings

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=1967141

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Cuttino Mobley acknowledged the cheers with a wave while striding confidently around the court to greet Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Later, he traded jokes with injured guards Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson at their courtside seats.

Sacramento's new shooting guard wasn't allowed to be in uniform Thursday night, but Mobley already seems comfortable in his new town.

After shaking off the shock of Monday's trade from Orlando, Mobley now seems intrigued by the opportunity to join the Kings. Always a dependable scorer, he expects to be even more dangerous in Sacramento's prolific offense.

And as for the Kings' famously adoring fans, he hopes to give them plenty to cheer.

"If everybody loves me, I'm going to love you back," he said.

Sacramento acquired Mobley and forward Michael Bradley from the Magic for guard Doug Christie, a key part of that Kings for the past four seasons. But Mobley is expected to deliver a scoring punch Christie couldn't provide as the Kings fight to stay with high-scoring Phoenix in the Pacific Division.

"I'm just going to bring what I do," Mobley said. "I score, I play a little D, (but) I'm not as good as Doug. Doug is a great defensive player. I respect and admire Doug a lot, so I'm not trying to fill his shoes. I just want to be Cuttino."

Mobley and Bradley should be able to play Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. They were unable to suit up for Sacramento's win over Utah on Thursday because Christie, apparently still reeling from the deal, was given an extra day to report to the Magic for his physical.

Mobley initially was dismayed by his second trade in seven months after spending his first six NBA seasons in Houston. He also expressed a bit of separation anxiety from the dissolution of his partnership with Steve Francis, his teammate since 1999 with the Rockets. Both were traded to Orlando last summer in the deal for NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady.

But Mobley has been put in an excellent position to put up the big numbers necessary for a lucrative new contract. He'll get plenty of shots with the Kings, who have scored 102.2 points per game this season -- their seventh straight year averaging more than 100.

"Everybody knows that they're the best passers in the league, and they've got some of the hardest-working players," Mobley said.

He averaged 16 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his 23 games with the Magic. He has averaged 17 points during seven pro seasons, including a career-best 21.7 in 2001-02.

"From playing against him all these years, we know what he can do with the basketball in his hands," coach Rick Adelman said. "He's one of those guys that can beat you all by himself if he has an opportunity. It's going to be exciting to see how he fits into what we're doing."

Bradley, the backup forward added to the deal, has none of Mobley's qualms about leaving the Magic, where he was buried on the injured list.

"In Orlando, I thought I had a good training camp, but (No. 1 draft pick) Dwight Howard turned out to be the real deal, and you know who's going to play," Bradley said. "I just kind of got caught in a numbers game. But this could really be the place for me. I love to pass and screen and go to the boards, and I can hit that 15-foot shot."

Mobley and Bradley sat courtside near the Kings' bench Thursday next to Bibby and Jackson -- and Mobley's mother.

Mobley is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract this summer, making him a free agent. The Kings could enter the sweepstakes to re-sign him, or they could use the money and cap room to ink Peja Stojakovic to a long-term extension after next season. Either way, Mobley knows he's playing for his future.

"I'm happy in Sac. I'm happy," Mobley said. "This is a place that really embraces you. I'm happy right now."