Christie Dealt for Mobley

The Sacramento Kings traded Doug Christie to the Orlando Magic for Cuttino Mobley on Monday in a swap of starting shooting guards.

Sacramento also acquired forward Michael Bradley, who’s on the injured list because of a strained right hamstring.

The Kings gave up their best defender and a team leader to add another top scorer to their lineup. Mobley, 29, averaged 16 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his 21 games with the Magic, which acquired him from Houston along with Steve Francis last summer in the seven-player trade involving Tracy McGrady.

Mobley has averaged 17 points per game during his seven pro seasons, including a career-best 21.7 in 2001-02 with the Rockets.

“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 three-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.”

Mobley could become a free agent next summer, possibly clearing room on the Kings’ payroll for an extension for Peja Stojakovic or other needs. Christie is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $48-million deal.

“I’m sad,” Mobley said. “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.”

Christie, 34, has been a durable, dependable leader during five seasons with the Kings. He is averaging 7.3 points -- his lowest average in a decade -- along with 4.9 assists and four rebounds while starting all 31 games.

The trade is Petrie’s biggest move yet in his push to add youth and athleticism to his roster this season around the core of Chris Webber, Stojakovic, Brad Miller and Mike Bibby.

*

Cleveland Cavalier guard Dajuan Wagner is in the hospital after missing the last two games because of intestinal flu.

Wagner was treated Monday at the Cleveland Clinic for dehydration and gastroenteritis, the latest in a series of medical problems for the guard since he joined Cleveland.

He missed 35 games as rookie during the 2002-03 season, including his first 14 because of surgery for a bladder infection. Last season, Wagner had an inflamed liver and pancreas that delayed knee surgery. He played in only 44 games.

Wagner has appeared in only 11 games this season, averaging four points and shooting 33% from the field.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers could lose rookie guard Luke Jackson for the season if he needs surgery for a back problem diagnosed as a herniated disk. Jackson, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft out of Oregon, has been on the injured list because of back spasms.

*

The Atlanta Hawks put center Kevin Willis, 42, on the injured list because of a strained lower back.