Marcus Thornton prefers to be in the Sacramento Kings' starting lineup but has been coming off the bench over the past two months.

For a player who had started almost all of the last two seasons, this reserve role has been an adjustment.

"I’m still trying to get adjusted to it,’’ Thornton said. ``Whatever helps the team at this present time, I’m with it. I want to be aggressive with that second unit and get stops.’’

Thomas Robinson was traded by the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday to the Houston Rockets, a rare instance where a top lottery pick is dealt midway through his rookie season.

“I found out through Marcus Morris,” Robinson told RealGM. “He called me and then my agent let me know so it was pretty quick.”

After a frustrating start to his career with the Kings, Robinson is ready for his opportunity with the Rockets.

“I’m on a new team, new organization, so it’s definitely a new start for me,” Robinson told RealGM.

Robinson feels the Rockets style of play is a good fit for his skill set.

“It’s an up-and-down pace and I’m a young guy,” said Robinson. “I feel like I’ll fit right in with them.” 

Robinson hopes to display the same skills that made him the fifth overall pick out of Kansas.

“As far as what I can bring is the same energy, effort, and trying to be a good teammate,” said Robinson.

A suit brought by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union against the building of a new arena in Seattle was dismissed by a judge on Friday.

The union said the arena would disrupt traffic at the nearby Port of Seattle.

The decision removes a potential hurdle for hedge fund manager Chris Hansen, who has an agreement to purchase the Sacramento Kings to relocate the franchise to Seattle.

If the judge had voided the arena agreement, including $200 million in public funding, Hansen's ability to get the purchase approved by the NBA would have been severely compromised.

The arena still has another legal challenge, as a taxpayer suit says the financing violates a voter-approved city ordinance that requires the city to make a profit on any public financing of a sports venue.

The Houston Rockets have acquired Thomas Robinson in a trade with the Sacramento Kings, according to a source.

Robinson was the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The Kings will receive Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas.

Houston will also acquire Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt.

Sources say the Seattle-based ownership group with a pending purchase of the Kings were consulted before the trade was agreed upon.

The Sacramento Kings' front office is likely to preserve the status quo through the trade deadline.

The Kings have a pending sale to an ownership from Seattle and the thinking is that they would prefer to inherit the team in its current state, according to a source.

David Stern said Sacramento has a chance of keeping the Kings, beating a bid from a group that intends to relocate the team to Seattle.

"Oh, certainly it's plausible to me, but I don't have a vote," Stern said. "But I expect the owners to have a very open mind on this. And it isn't plausible yet to talk about it until the predicates have been fulfilled."

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson has asked for and been granted a chance to deliver a competing offer, which is expected by March 1.

Stern was asked if the decision will come down strictly to the arena deal.

"This is strictly about what the owners decide," he said. "There's a great and strong application from a terrific city to bring in a third and possibly a fourth team in a brand-new building, well-financed ownership group, without the ability yet to build, because there are several things that have to be overcome. But that's really good. So if you're a commissioner, you like that."

Sacramento continues its fight to keep the Kings from relocating.

The Maloofs have signed a deal with a group based in Seattle that plan to move the Kings there for the 13-14 NBA season.

"It's going to be a very difficult decision for the board of governors if Sacramento comes up with an offer," said David Stern on Thursday.

Stern said that expansion isn't really an option for the NBA at this point, though it could change after his 2014 retirement.

DeMarcus Cousins was ejected from the Sacramento Kings' loss on Monday at the Utah Jazz.

Cousins approached referees Scott Foster, Matt Boland and Tre Maddox at halfcourt at halftime.

Cousins said he wanted an explanation for the technical foul Maddox called on him in the second quarter.

"He was saying, 'Don't talk to me,' " Cousins said. "So my response was, 'You don't have to act like an effing female.' I shouldn't have said that. That's about it."

Cousins has an NBA-high 12 technical fouls and is four from an automatic one-game suspension.

DeMarcus Cousins leads the NBA with 10 technical fouls this season.

Cousins was called for his 10th technical in the third quarter of Friday’s 89-80 loss to the 76ers.

Cousins slammed the ball against the floor after being whistled for a loose ball foul against Spencer Hawes.

"I was mad that I fouled," Cousins said. "I wasn't mad about the call. I was mad I didn't steal it. I never really got an explanation (for the technical)."

Cousins will be forced to serve a one-game suspension each time he picks up two technicals after his 16th.