Charles

Oakley

Nets president Rod Thorn said the team is not contemplating signing anybody to replace Mourning, at least not in the short term.

Oakley was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, criminal trespass and harassment after being ejected from a Knicks game at MSG on February 8th. Interestingly, Oakley rejected a conditional dismissal offer that would have left him with a clean record after six months of good behavior. Oakley’s attorney, Alex Spiro, stated in court that he has a list of witnesses he’d like to call on during Oakley’s trial.

Oakley was charged with assault, aggravated harassment, criminal trespass and harassment after being ejected from a Knicks game at MSG on February 8th. Dolan then went on New York radio and suggested that Oakley was an alcoholic. Per the ESPN report, Oakley’s suit requests an award of damages to be determined at trial by a jury to compensate Oakley for emotional distress and/or mental anguish and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

“I haven’t seen him play in a long time because he’s been out of action for a while, so I’m not sure what he could bring,” James said. “But you have to know he would be a veteran presence and bring a dog mentality with him about the game of basketball.”

“I’m not saying I’m better than guys who play every day. But I can play 20 minutes a night,” Oakley said. “I understand the game. I can shoot, make free throws and defend. A lot of teams don’t have a general on the floor. I’m not trying to steal from anybody. Give me a tryout and if you don’t think I can do it, then just cut me.” Isiah Thomas is surely trying to find a way to make this work, but it’s not likely with 16 players already under contract.

Toronto would be nice, but so would Dallas, Miami, Cleveland or New York, as long as the price is right. “I’m not coming back cheap,” said Oakley, who is back in top physical shape. “If you read this article and you think you can get me cheap, there’s another thought coming.”

The Rockets are banged up at power forward with Kelvin Cato on the IL, Clarence Weatherspoon out, and Maurice Taylor playing hurt. “All (Yao) needs to know is he’s got a good man beside him,” Oakley said. “He doesn’t have to worry about Shaq (O’Neal) no more.”

Oakley has four points and two boards in five games since joining Houston.

“They should have [given] Herb the job,” Oakley said in response to whether Isiah Thomas or Larry Brown should have ever been in New York. “That was embarrassing to bring [Thomas] to New York. What he’s done over the last five years for the team is garbage.” Interestingly, the majority of Williams’ career was spent in Indiana with Donnie Walsh, so don’t give Mark Jackson the job just yet.