ploto
12-27-2008, 10:37 AM
The Knicks have petitioned the NBA to grant them a disabled player exception (DPE) as a result of Cuttino Mobley's retirement announcement earlier this month because of a heart condition. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Knicks are confident in their argument, although because of the holidays, a decision might not be rendered until after Jan. 1.
The one caveat is that the Knicks waived Mobley's physical to complete the Nov. 21 trade that sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Mobley and Tim Thomas. There was some prior knowledge of a heart issue with Mobley, but the Knicks will contend that they were not aware of the severity of his condition, which turned out to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The previous teams Mobley played for - the Rockets and the Clippers - were aware that Mobley had a heart condition. But not until after the Knicks' physical on Nov. 23 did Mobley learn that his condition had become life-threatening.
According to the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement, a team can use the DPE to acquire a player - either with a signing or in a trade - for up to 50 percent of the current salary of the disabled player. In the case of Mobley, whose salary is $8.9 million this season, the Knicks would be allotted up to $4.45 million.
The Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday, can use the exception to sign a free agent, such as a player in Europe. They could make a play for 6-6 shooting guard Carlos Delfino, who is playing in Russia and technically still is property of the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks could sign Delfino to an offer sheet and hope the Raptors don't match. The Thunder did this with Nenad Krstic, who was a restricted free agent playing in Russia. The Nets declined to match the offer and Krstic joined the Thunder.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spknix245976350dec24,0,4147269.story
The one caveat is that the Knicks waived Mobley's physical to complete the Nov. 21 trade that sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers for Mobley and Tim Thomas. There was some prior knowledge of a heart issue with Mobley, but the Knicks will contend that they were not aware of the severity of his condition, which turned out to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The previous teams Mobley played for - the Rockets and the Clippers - were aware that Mobley had a heart condition. But not until after the Knicks' physical on Nov. 23 did Mobley learn that his condition had become life-threatening.
According to the NBA's collective-bargaining agreement, a team can use the DPE to acquire a player - either with a signing or in a trade - for up to 50 percent of the current salary of the disabled player. In the case of Mobley, whose salary is $8.9 million this season, the Knicks would be allotted up to $4.45 million.
The Knicks, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday, can use the exception to sign a free agent, such as a player in Europe. They could make a play for 6-6 shooting guard Carlos Delfino, who is playing in Russia and technically still is property of the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks could sign Delfino to an offer sheet and hope the Raptors don't match. The Thunder did this with Nenad Krstic, who was a restricted free agent playing in Russia. The Nets declined to match the offer and Krstic joined the Thunder.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/ny-spknix245976350dec24,0,4147269.story