The Kings are refusing to comment on an expected grievance by Luc Mbah a Moute, tweets Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. The National Basketball Players Association plans to file the action next week after Sacramento voided the free agent’s contract over a failed physical. Jones says the team is standing by its medical findings, which indicated a problem with the forward’s right shoulder. Mbah a Moute had agreed to a one-year, $1.55MM deal, but the contract was voided after the results of the physical. Former Nets executive Bobby Marks said the grievance could be affected by whether an MRI or x-ray was done on the player’s shoulder or whether it was a routine exam (Twitter link). He adds that it is solely up to team doctors whether to pass or fail a player, but those procedures help to protect an organization if something is questioned (Twitter link).
There’s more from Sacramento:
- Mbah a Moute claims Sacramento’s decision was faulty in an interview with Pape Birame Sy of Basket USA (translation via HoopsHype). “What happened with the Kings? They made a mistake, an error in judgment,” Mbah a Moute said. “At the moment we are working with the Kings and the players’ union to fix the situation.” Mbah a Moute also said the ruling damages his “image.”
- Nancy Lieberman, hired this week as the league’s second female assistant coach, expects to find out soon what her exact duties will be, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. She plans to meet with vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac and coach George Karl today in Las Vegas at the NBA coaches camp. “I’m sure they’ll let me what my role will be,” Lieberman said. “George will know, and whatever he wants, I’ll deliver.
- In a radio interview with Grant Napier of HTK Sports 1140, Lieberman relates a friendly welcome she received from DeMarcus Cousins during summer league, writes Jason Wise of NBA.com. “He put his arm around my shoulder and goes ‘Are you going to be with us the whole season?’ and I said ‘Do you want me to be around all season? and we kind of looked at each other and he said ‘That would be cool,” Lieberman recalls.