CLEVELAND – Cuttino Mobley is strongly mulling a medical retirement because of an enlarged heart condition and could make the announcement tomorrow, according to a person familiar with the situation.
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Mobley, 33, still has one more heart test left today in Minnesota. It had been reported that Mobley had signed a waiver with the Clippers to release them of liability if he had heart problems.
If Mobley, obtained in the Zach Randolph trade from the Clippers, retires, it would free open a roster spot and save the Knicks about 75 percent of the $18. 9 million left on his pact because of insurance. Mobley, who gets all the money, was obtained more for his contract that expires after next season than for his game.
According to the source, Mobley helped initiate the extra testing following his failed physical. “He’s not really focused on basketball, his main concern is his health,” the source said.
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LeBron James said the cap-clearing deals for 2010 have taken the focus off the current Knicks and said he’s become “a distraction” to their club.
“It’s a distraction for the Knicks,” James said last night. “It’s not a distraction for us. We’re good. It’s a distraction for those players. But for us, we’re set. Players on that team don’t want to hear about LeBron James or Chris Bosh coming to their team.”
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Bad news on the Eddy Curry front. An MRI taken Monday showed the bone bruise in his knee is in a bad spot, resting against the tibia – a weight-carrying bone. Curry, who hasn’t played this season, will take a new set of special shots – one a week for three weeks.