Notebook: Moore grateful Sonics made him center of attention

Few, if any, NBA players would publicly say they want to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, which reflects more on the team's woeful past than its ever-promising future.

And yet despite the 14-year streak of non-winning seasons and their perennial bottom-feeding position in the standings, Mikki Moore wanted desperately to be a Clipper.

He said as much whenever anyone would ask him last season.

The journeyman center estimates that he has worked out for 28 of the league's 30 teams and was tired of the vagabond life. After playing sparingly for most of his seven-year career, he'd found a coach who believed in him in Mike Dunleavy, and a role that provided significant minutes in 74 games.

The situation, in Moore's mind, couldn't have been any better. He was an unrestricted free agent who not only wanted to return to a team that had a 37-45 record, but would give a rousing recommendation to other free agents about life with the other Los Angeles team.

But a funny thing happened to Moore on the way to his happily-ever-after ending.

"They didn't want me," he said after yesterday's Sonics practice, the first day the reserve center has been able to work out on a sore left knee in weeks.

"I don't hate the Clippers for how they treated me this summer," Moore said. "It was a misunderstanding. They had too many people in the front office trying to make a decision. Three people wanted me there and one person didn't, so we couldn't get the deal done.

"I got the deal here. The coaching staff here welcomed me with open arms. The owner told me they wanted me here, and if somebody comes to me like that, then I'm going to give you 200 percent of what I've got because I've been fighting for my livelihood my entire career. For them to do that, I'm not going to hesitate."

As fate would have it, the day Moore said yes to the Sonics on what is believed to be a two-year, $3 million contract, the Clippers called and acquiesced to his contract demands after initially offering him a two-year deal at the league minimum, which equated to roughly $2.1 million.

"I was like, 'Man, I already made my decision,' " he said. "There's no way I'd turn my back on Seattle after they've treated me like that."

Because his new team has been good to him, these past three weeks on the sideline have been difficult for the 7-footer, who has missed five of six exhibition games and most of training camp.

Moore had fluid removed from his knee Oct. 17 and passed the necessary tests, which allowed him back on the court Wednesday. If there was no significant swelling Wednesday night, then he will play tonight against the Clippers at the Staples Center and Friday against Portland at Spokane Arena. Officially, his status is listed as a game-time decision.

"For us to get a good feeling of how he fits in, we need to see him for an extended period of time," assistant coach Jack Sikma said. "Hopefully that knee is settled down and we'll be able to keep him on the court as the season starts."

During Moore's absence, rookie Johan Petro has impressed the coaching staff. If injured Vitaly Potapenko (sore left hamstring) isn't ready for the season opener Wednesday, then Petro would likely be the starter.

Should Potapenko return, Petro and a host of candidates, including Danny Fortson and Nick Collison, appear to have a firm grasp on the backup duties, which leaves Moore at the end of the bench.

"That's something that [coach Bob Weiss] has got to weigh," Sikma said. "We as a staff will give our input, but ultimately he'll go with who he feels comfortable with.

"What Mikki brings us is he's got a good defensive concept from the painted area. He talks. He communicates. He understands positioning and he brings some veteran length. A guy who can bother some shots. A lot of that Johan is doing right now, except that Mikki is a veteran."

Before Moore can concern himself with playing time and establishing the type of role that he enjoyed in Los Angeles, where he averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, he said he has to get healthy.

"I told them, 'I'm not missing this road trip,' " Moore said. "It's been hard sitting out. That's not who I am or what I'm about. ... I think they know that. We've got a little bit of a history together."

"Just like I felt in L.A., I feel that here," Moore said. "The guys here are cool and we got an easy locker room.

"The coaching staff believes in the players and when you got that, then normally what you get is players who want to give everything they got for the coaches."

Note

• Ray Allen (sore right groin) and Rick Brunson (plantar fasciitis, left foot) are listed as game-time decisions. Potapenko accompanied the Sonics on their two-game trip, but will not play in either game. He is questionable for the season opener.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com