Cuttino Mobley, a Knick less than three weeks who never played a minute for the team, has decided to retire because of signs he has a potentially life-threatening heart disease, according to three people familiar with the situation.
Mobley, a 12-year veteran with a career 16-point scoring average, will announce his retirement at a press conference today. The 33-year-old, who played most of his career with Houston and the Clippers, met with Knick president Donnie Walsh yesterday and informed him of his decision.
After reviewing a battery of heart tests across the past two weeks, Mobley has been convinced he has symptoms for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the disease that killed Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis.
Known as HCM, the disease is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. It is caused by a thickened muscle in the heart.
The Post reported last Thursday that Mobley was seriously mulling retirement. The Post reported Friday that Mobley underwent tests with HCM specialist Dr. Barry Maron at the Minneapolis Heart Institute.
The Knicks are planning to waive Mobley today to open up a much-needed roster spot. Signing Patrick Ewing Jr. is an option, but not the only one. Walsh may wait to see if he can use one of his trade exceptions to land a shooting guard or make a 2-for-1 trade. Ewing is a small forward. Walsh could take a week before deciding.
Ewing told a confidant he was about to sign a developmental-league contract and wants to be assigned to the Knicks’ affiliate in Reno.
Reno officials, though, have not spoken to Ewing yet. Ewing had been working out at the Knicks’ training facility even after becoming the last cut of training camp – an unpopular decision.
Mobley was obtained in one of the blockbuster trades 19 days ago. Now the trade boils down to Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins for Tim Thomas, not one for the ages.
Mobley played with an enlarged heart condition for the Rockets and Clippers, signing a waiver to play. Walsh has acknowledged his contract is not fully insured, so the Knicks will have to pay most of the $19 million left on it. But they can apply to have Mobley’s salary removed from their cap next season because it is a career-ending injury. That would save them $9 million in luxury tax.
After the trade, Walsh said he felt the deals still made them “competitive,” but that was with the idea Mobley would be the starting shooting guard.
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Marbury, still banned from the Knicks, said he’s leaving Sunday for a two-week respite from the cold weather, heading west for a vacation to Los Angeles, Mexico and Hawaii.
Marbury likely will be in L.A. when the Knicks face the Lakers there on Tuesday. It’s unclear if he would be in violation of his ban if he attends the game at Staples Center as a courtside fan.