Doug Christie article in Orlando Sentinel
Christie says return would be 'difficult'
The guard says he did not feel the Magic backed him publicly when he was hurt.
By Tim Povtak
Sentinel Staff Writer
April 14, 2005
Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie won't ask to be traded publicly, but it sure sounds like he wants to be.
Even though he has another year left on his contract -- paying him $8.2 million -- Christie and agent Bradley Marshall expressed serious reservations Wednesday about the guard returning to Orlando next season.
Christie came to the Magic on Jan. 10 from the Sacramento Kings in a trade for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Michael Bradley, but he went on the injured list March 5, effectively ending his season. He had surgery last week to remove bone spurs in his left ankle.
"I'm going to be 100 percent by next season. But to come back and play under the circumstances I've been put through [in Orlando] would be very difficult," Christie said in an interview with WFTV-Channel 9, the ABC affiliate in Orlando. "The situation doesn't fit the type of person I am."
When given the opportunity in the interview, he declined to say he wanted to be traded.
The Magic obtained Christie at midseason in hopes of becoming better defensively, but he played in only 21 games, averaging only 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 25.2 minutes. At 34, he was slowed by ankle problems that had plagued him for more than a year.
He had a less-invasive procedure done to the left ankle in September in hopes that he could play this season.
His unhappiness in Orlando revolves around Magic General Manager John Weisbrod -- whom Christie said he believes did not support him publicly while he was hurt, leading to some criticism in the media that he wasn't a team player.
Christie and his agent met with Weisbrod in New York hours before he went on the injured list. He since has spent very little time in Orlando or with the team, getting other medical opinions on his ankle.
He had surgery in Seattle, which is where he has spent much of his time lately. His agent showed a bag of bone fragments from Christie's ankle in the televised interview.
"It's ridiculous that the organization could stand by and let people [in the media] attack my integrity," Christie said. "This is the team that traded for me but showed very little commitment toward me."
Weisbrod was surprised Wednesday when informed of Christie's remarks. He previously had defended Christie's decision to go elsewhere to get medical opinions, giving him permission to leave the team.
"I've never been close to uttering a disparaging word about him. The organization has done nothing but defend him," Weisbrod said. "So I have no intention of trading him or buying him out. He's making his own bed, and he's going to have to come back and lie in it, so the sooner he takes a constructive mind-set, the better."
"Doug's unhappiness is real," said Marshall. "We're not going to ask for a trade. That's not our role. I just question whether it is a good fit for the team to have this player."
Christie has been in the NBA for 13 seasons, carving a reputation as an outstanding defensive player who is unselfish offensively. But even before this season began, it was obvious that he was no longer quite the defensive stopper he once was.
The Magic still liked him defensively, but they also liked his contract, which will expire after next season. Center Kelvin Cato ($8.6 million) and forward Tony Battie ($5.2 million) also have contracts that expire after next season, giving Orlando the ability to go far under the salary cap to make them a major player in the 2006 free-agent market.
Mobley, a much better offensive player, was going to be a free agent this summer, and the Magic were not interested in signing him long term.
Christie expressed unhappiness when the trade was announced. Although the Kings were his fourth NBA team, they also were his most successful. In each of his first four seasons in Sacramento, he played at least 80 games.
"What's good for Doug Christie was having surgery and being ready to come back next season 100 percent," he said. "I loved Sacramento, but I'm an Orlando Magic now. It's just discouraging to see my integrity attacked."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-sptchristie14041405apr14,1,6297287.story?coll=orl-magic&ctrack=2&cset=true
Christie says return would be 'difficult'
The guard says he did not feel the Magic backed him publicly when he was hurt.
By Tim Povtak
Sentinel Staff Writer
April 14, 2005
Orlando Magic guard Doug Christie won't ask to be traded publicly, but it sure sounds like he wants to be.
Even though he has another year left on his contract -- paying him $8.2 million -- Christie and agent Bradley Marshall expressed serious reservations Wednesday about the guard returning to Orlando next season.
Christie came to the Magic on Jan. 10 from the Sacramento Kings in a trade for guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Michael Bradley, but he went on the injured list March 5, effectively ending his season. He had surgery last week to remove bone spurs in his left ankle.
"I'm going to be 100 percent by next season. But to come back and play under the circumstances I've been put through [in Orlando] would be very difficult," Christie said in an interview with WFTV-Channel 9, the ABC affiliate in Orlando. "The situation doesn't fit the type of person I am."
When given the opportunity in the interview, he declined to say he wanted to be traded.
The Magic obtained Christie at midseason in hopes of becoming better defensively, but he played in only 21 games, averaging only 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 25.2 minutes. At 34, he was slowed by ankle problems that had plagued him for more than a year.
He had a less-invasive procedure done to the left ankle in September in hopes that he could play this season.
His unhappiness in Orlando revolves around Magic General Manager John Weisbrod -- whom Christie said he believes did not support him publicly while he was hurt, leading to some criticism in the media that he wasn't a team player.
Christie and his agent met with Weisbrod in New York hours before he went on the injured list. He since has spent very little time in Orlando or with the team, getting other medical opinions on his ankle.
He had surgery in Seattle, which is where he has spent much of his time lately. His agent showed a bag of bone fragments from Christie's ankle in the televised interview.
"It's ridiculous that the organization could stand by and let people [in the media] attack my integrity," Christie said. "This is the team that traded for me but showed very little commitment toward me."
Weisbrod was surprised Wednesday when informed of Christie's remarks. He previously had defended Christie's decision to go elsewhere to get medical opinions, giving him permission to leave the team.
"I've never been close to uttering a disparaging word about him. The organization has done nothing but defend him," Weisbrod said. "So I have no intention of trading him or buying him out. He's making his own bed, and he's going to have to come back and lie in it, so the sooner he takes a constructive mind-set, the better."
"Doug's unhappiness is real," said Marshall. "We're not going to ask for a trade. That's not our role. I just question whether it is a good fit for the team to have this player."
Christie has been in the NBA for 13 seasons, carving a reputation as an outstanding defensive player who is unselfish offensively. But even before this season began, it was obvious that he was no longer quite the defensive stopper he once was.
The Magic still liked him defensively, but they also liked his contract, which will expire after next season. Center Kelvin Cato ($8.6 million) and forward Tony Battie ($5.2 million) also have contracts that expire after next season, giving Orlando the ability to go far under the salary cap to make them a major player in the 2006 free-agent market.
Mobley, a much better offensive player, was going to be a free agent this summer, and the Magic were not interested in signing him long term.
Christie expressed unhappiness when the trade was announced. Although the Kings were his fourth NBA team, they also were his most successful. In each of his first four seasons in Sacramento, he played at least 80 games.
"What's good for Doug Christie was having surgery and being ready to come back next season 100 percent," he said. "I loved Sacramento, but I'm an Orlando Magic now. It's just discouraging to see my integrity attacked."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-sptchristie14041405apr14,1,6297287.story?coll=orl-magic&ctrack=2&cset=true
