Thoughts on the Mobley Decision

by Tommy Dee on January 31st, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Editor’s Note: Your boy Tommy is cold and tired of the weather and it’s affecting his memory. Mobley retired so there is some clarity now on my end, the Knicks do have a roster spot. My apologies.

I guess the NBA isn’t pro-Knick resurgence.

I wholeheartedly agree that the NBA blew it here in deciding against the Knicks’ appeal to get a disabled player salary-cap exception for Cuttino Mobley. The Knicks were protecting themselves here, and are taking a bit of an unnecessary hit.

That said, Donnie Walsh may have misplayed his hand. I’m still very much in favor of the trade that sent Zach Randolph to the Clippers, but the aftermath still has me pretty foggy.

What happens now? Does the team try and trade him? Who would take on $17 million dollars?

Does he play? I mean the Knicks COULD use him on the court, but there’s no way they risk him in action for the very reasons they filed the appeal in the first place.

Do they buy him out? Well, that’s not good business.

In the end I’d rather have Tim Thomas and Mobley’s contracts instead of Randolph’s even if Mobley never plays one game. But, frankly, if these team is going to improve over the next year and change, they’ll need to have more roster flexibility.
  • gbaked

    ummm… huh?

    a link would be cool.

    what is the decision? what does this mean?

  • http://theKnicksBlog.com Tommy Dee

    Link now attached.

  • BiggieSmalls

    So since he is retired how can he be traded?? I thought that was a no no..

    As I understand it the roster spot is available, the money stays on the cap and may or may not be picked up by insurance.

  • BiggieSmalls

    For further clarification.. Since Mobley retired for Medical reasons the Knicks can apply for salary cap relief ONE YEAR after an independent doctor confirms the player is unfit to play..

    So I guess the clock started ticking on that last month.. It means nothing as far as $$ available but comes off for luxury cap reasons.. But the salary cap FAQ says medically retired players can not be traded.

    members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q53

    So that link is wrong in that respect. Berman got it wrong too..

  • reddog2669

    Why wouldn’t buying him out be good business? It’s either pay him and take a roster spo or pay him and not take up a roster spot. Chances are the Knicks would fill the spot with a project like Ewing Jr. or another player of that ilk who wouldn’t cost much.

  • BiggieSmalls

    reddog ..Mobley is medically retired. the roster spot is open.. He is not on the roster anymore

  • reddog2669

    biggiesmalls… sorry, i read it wrong.

  • BiggieSmalls

    no pressure dog.

  • pedro

    I guess time is running out for Anthony Roberson. wait… he’s still on the Knicks roster?