The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that forward Chris Wilcox has been acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for forward Malik Rose and cash considerations and guard Larry Hughes has been acquired from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Jerome James, guard Anthony Roberson and forward Tim Thomas.

 

“With these trades, we have added two talented players and strengthened our backcourt and frontline, while also not losing sight of our long term goals,” Walsh said. “Chris and Larry are versatile players that will have good opportunities to thrive in our system.”

 

Wilcox, 6-10, 235-pounds, was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the eighth overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft out of the University of Maryland. The Raleigh, NC-native has career averages of 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.40 blocks in 423 career games (211 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Oklahoma City/Seattle and Los Angeles Clippers. Wilcox averaged 13.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 62 games (55 starts) with Seattle during the 2007-08 season. He is averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds over 19.4 minutes in 37 games (six starts) during 2008-09 campaign.

 

Hughes, 6-5, 184-pounds, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the eighth overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft out of Saint Louis University. The St. Louis, MO-native has career averages of 14.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.50 steals in 648 career games (479 starts) over 11 NBA seasons with Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, Golden State and Philadelphia. Hughes, who was acquired by Chicago in a six-player deal on Feb. 21, 2008, averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 68 games with Chicago and Cleveland during the 2007-08 season. He is averaging 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.20 steals over 26.4 minutes in 30 games (six starts) during 2008-09 campaign.

 

“Chris is a gifted athletic big man that brings toughness and solidifies our interior defense,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Larry fits nicely in our backcourt. He is extremely athletic and a tough defender with a solid overall game.”

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Rose, 6-7, 255-pounds, was acquired by the Knicks, along with a first-round pick on Feb. 24, 2005 from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer. Rose averaged 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds over 13.9 minutes in 230 games (44 starts) over five seasons with New York. The Drexel product, who won two NBA championships in San Antonio, has career averages of 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 793 games over 13 seasons with New York, San Antonio and Charlotte. He is averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds over 8.9 minutes in 18 games this season.

 

James, 7-1, 285-pounds, signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2005 after spending four seasons with the Seattle Supersonics. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 90 career games with New York. The Florida A&M product, who is in his 10th NBA season, has career averages of 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 358 games with New York, Seattle and Sacramento. He is averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in two games during the 2008-09 campaign. On Jan. 18, James ruptured his right Achilles and is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

 

Roberson, 6-2, 195-pounds, signed as a free agent with the Knicks on Jul. 24, 2008. The Saginaw, MI-native averaged 4.7 points and 11.0 minutes in 23 games this season.

 

Thomas, 6-10, 240-pounds, was acquired by the Knicks, with Cuttino Mobley, from the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 21 in exchange for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins. Thomas averaged 9.6 points and 3.1 rebounds over 21.5 minutes in 36 games (one start) in his second stint with New York. The Villanova product, who also played for the Knicks from 2003-05 before being traded to Chicago on Oct. 4, 2005, has career averages of 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 788 games over 11 seasons with New York, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix, Chicago, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

 

 

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Veteran Guard Averaged 16.0 Points Per Game During 11-Year NBA Career

New York Kn icks guard Cuttino Mobley has informed the team that he will retire from professional basketball following extensive medical evaluations. It has been determined that Mobley has a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that has progressed to the point where he can no longer play.

 

“The specialists I have seen made it clear that my heart condition has gotten worse, and I cannot continue to play professional basketball without putting my health and life in serious danger,” Mobley said. “As much as I want to keep playing in the NBA, I have no choice but to follow the advice of my doctors and step away from the League.  I have had the privilege of playing in the NBA for 11 years, but my health and family must come first, and it is time to move on to the next stage in my life.

 

“This has definitely been a shocking situation for me, but I want my fans, friends and loved ones to know that I will be fine. My career has been a blessing and I am grateful to have had this experience.”

 

Mobley was acquired by New York, along with Tim Thomas, from the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 21, 2008 in exchange for Mardy Collins and Zach Randolph. Mobley never appeared in a game with the Knicks while undergoing additional medical testing prior to his retirement.

 

Mobley, 6-4, 215-pounds, was selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft. The Philadelphia, PA-native ends his NBA career with averages of 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 747 career games over 11 seasons with Houston, Orlando, Sacramento and L.A. Clippers.

 

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Collins and Randolph Traded to L.A. Clippers

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas have been acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Mardy Collins and forward Zach Randolph.

 

“Cuttino and Tim are two veteran players that will help us work towards our joint goal of remaining competitive this season while also improving our long-term cap flexibility,” said Walsh. “Zach is an extremely talented player who produces numbers that few players can and we thank him, and Mardy, for their efforts as Knickerbockers.”

 

Mobley, 6-4, 215-pounds, was selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft. The Philadelphia, PA-native has career averages of 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 747 career games over 11 NBA seasons with Houston, Orlando, Sacramento and L.A. Clippers. The University of Rhode Island product averaged 12.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 77 games during the 2007-08 season with the Clippers. Mobley is averaging 13.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11 games during the 2008-09 campaign.

 

Thomas, 6-10, 240-pounds, was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the seventh overall selection in the 1997 NBA Draft and enters his second tour with the Knicks. The Paterson, NJ-native has career averages of 11.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 752 career games over 12 NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, New York, Chicago, Phoenix and L.A. Clippers. The Villanova product was acquired by New York during the 2003-04 season and averaged 12.9 points and 3.7 rebound in 95 games with the Knickerbockers before being traded to Chicago prior to the 2005-06 season. Last season with the L.A. Clippers, Thomas averaged 12.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 63 games. In 10 games this season, Thomas is averaging 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

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“Tim enjoyed a lot of success in our system a few years ago in Phoenix when he was a key part of a run to the Western Conference Finals,” Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I am also very familiar with Cuttino and his knowledge of the game, and his ability to spread the floor and defend.”

 

Collins, 6-6, 225-pounds, was selected by New York with the 29th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft and averaged 3.7 points and 1.7 assists in 107 career games with the Knicks over three seasons. The Temple product is averaging 2.2 points and 1.1 assists in nine games this season.

 

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Jamal Crawford Traded to Golden State

 

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walshannounced today that forward Al Harrington has been acquired from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for guardJamal Crawford.

 

“I drafted Al back in 1998 and I think his talents are a great fit for our style of play,” Walsh said. “This trade also gives us more long-term flexibility while enabling us to remain competitive this season. To acquire a player of Al’s caliber, we had to give up someone we all really liked in Jamal. We thank him for his contributions both on and off the court, and we wish him all the best in Golden State.”

 

Harrington, 6-9, 250-pounds, was selected by the Indiana Pacers with 25th overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft out of St. Patrick’s High School in Elizabeth, NJ. The Orange, NJ-native has career averages of 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 660 career games over 11 NBA seasons with Indiana, Atlanta and Golden State. Harrington averaged 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 81 games during the 2007-08 season with Golden State and is averaging 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games during 2008-09 campaign.

 

“Al is a true NBA veteran who possesses multi-positional skills,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He will fit perfectly into our system and will help us win some games immediately.”

 

Crawford, 6-5, 200-pounds, was originally acquired by the Knicks on Aug. 5, 2004 from the Chicago Bulls and averaged 17.6 points and 4.4 assists in 299 career games with New York. He finishes his Knicks career as the franchise’s 25th all-time leading scorer with 5,269 points. The Michigan product has career averages of 14.7 points and 4.1 assists in 543 games over nine NBA seasons with both New York and Chicago.

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