Two questions in, Brad Miller stopped trying to contain the tears. He let the first one fall past his flushed cheeks before wiping away the next.
"It's just I have a lot of memories here," Miller said as he neared the exit of Arco Arena, his home of 5 1/2 seasons. "I haven't been anywhere for this long since I left home at 17. It's going to be kind of weird not coming back out here."
After talking with his agent, Miller said he thought he would make it to Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks wearing Kings purple.
"Then when (my agent) called me back, he told me," Miller said of being traded with John Salmons to the Chicago Bulls. "I was in shock that it really happened."
Miller said he is excited about the opportunity to play for a playoff-contending club with which he previously spent two seasons. He said he felt good about the contributions he made to the Kings and confident that the rebuilding franchise would find its way.
"I've worked with Spence (Hawes) and tried to teach him, and I've been working with Jason (Thompson) and trying to tell him to shut up and just play," Miller said.
"They can get this thing turned around, because this can be a great place when you're winning. Kevin (Martin) knows that, he experienced it, and hopefully these other guys get to know that."
Return of a King – Mike Bibby could not walk two feet without a disruption Wednesday. There were former teammates to catch up with and people calling his name throughout Arco. The love he was shown in Sacramento didn't surprise him.
"They've always had fans like that," Bibby said.
One year removed from being traded to Atlanta, Bibby said the transition has been as smooth as it's looked. But the Kings will always be in a separate category when he thinks of his career.
"I think this made my career coming here, and opposing players like to come here just for the atmosphere around here," Bibby said. "(It will) always be special."
Bibby said the Miller trade came down to timing.
"It was time," Bibby said. "I think they were planning on doing that a while."
Tough times – Several Kings attempted to reach third-year guard Quincy Douby to no avail before tipoff. Kings rookie Donté Greene was wearing a look of disbelief that the former Rutgers star was waived.
Kings reserve Mikki Moore said the first trade deadline tends to be a lesson in the business of basketball for rookies.
"I keep trying to tell them, 'You're just a bargaining chip,' " Moore said.
Kings coach Kenny Natt said he has faith Douby will land on his feet.
"I was waived as a player myself – I know exactly how he feels," Natt said. "That's part of this business. He'll look back at this and laugh someday, like I look back at my situation."
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. To get alerts and game scores sent to your phone, text KINGS to 72737.
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