Al Harrington and Tim Thomas were on the court warming up long before tipoff last night, preparing for the next chapter in their NBA careers. However, the other component of the Knicks' wheeling and dealing wasn't around, and there's no telling when he'll be in uniform.
Cuttino Mobley, whose failed physical had been holding up the trade that brought him and Thomas from the Clippers for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins, was traveling yesterday, according to his agent. Mobley has a heart condition that concerns the Knicks and the deal was in a holding phase until team president Donnie Walsh waived the physical as a condition of the trade yesterday. But it still could be a while before Mobley makes his Knicks debut. Mobley has had tests in New York and Boston and will see more doctors during the next week, although with the impending Thanksgiving holiday, it might make it a bit tough. The Clippers claim they knew about Mobley's condition and it never has been an issue. The Knicks want to make sure it's not.
"We're still gathering some information," said Mobley's agent, Andy Miller, who was at the Garden last night. "The Clippers have their assessment of things and then there is the current assessment based on where things are right now. So we're still evaluating the information that we're getting."
Walsh, who doesn't anticipate Mobley playing this week, wouldn't confirm that Mobley's heart condition is the holdup. He said the Knicks won't determine what to do until all the pertinent information is collected.
There was talk the Knicks may have been seeking extra compensation from the Clippers because of what was happening with Mobley. When that subject was broached with Walsh, he brushed off the question.
"I'm not going to get into my agreement with them or anything we talked about," Walsh said. "Once you do a trade, the trade's done."
Mobley started in each of his 11 games with the Clippers and averaged 33.5 minutes. In his 10-year NBA career, he has played in 747 games, which includes stints in Houston, Orlando and Sacramento.
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said he isn't concerned about Mobley. But he's eager to find out what is happening with Mobley, and is looking forward to getting him familiar with the offense and inserting him in the lineup.
"I really don't know a lot about it, but I'm just hoping that whatever gets resolved and we can get him in here as soon as we can," D'Antoni said. "But I'm kind of anxious like you to kind of find out what's going on."
Miller didn't deny he's a bit wary of the current situation.
"I'm always concerned when it deals with a client and having to do extra tests," he said. "But until we get the full analysis of everything, I'll wait and see and take it as it comes."
Staff writer Alan Hahn contributed to this story
