Mitchell Robinson's delayed return to the court could be a serious problem for the New York Knicks.
According to multiple reports, Robinson is still recovering from foot surgery he underwent in May, which caused him to miss some of the Knicks' postseason run.
Robinson will not be ready for the start of the season, and the Knicks are reportedly targeting a December or January return.
Robinson's absence leaves a thin center rotation following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein even thinner. The injury thrusts Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims into big roles
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On ESPN's "NBA Today," analyst and insider Zach Lowe said that Robinson's delayed return is a worrisome development for the Knicks in a crowded Eastern Conference.
"This a big deal," Lowe said. "We could look back in six months and say that Isaiah Hartenstein changing teams was maybe the most impactful move of the offseason — or one of them, along with Paul George — both for Oklahoma City and the void it leaves now with the Knicks.
"It's not just defensively, with the rebounding and size and rim protection Mitchell Robinson brings. The Knicks under [Tom Thibodeau] have been the best second-shot offensive team in the entire NBA. They are an offensive rebounding machine. They put those back in, they get fouled. Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein were basically all of that last year."
Lowe continued:
"Here's the reality: the East is super competitive at the top, and Orlando, Cleveland, and Indiana are breathing down the necks of the top four in the East. It's too early to talk about playoff seeding, but the margin for error is pretty, pretty slim. This is a big deal for the Knicks ... This is a sideways turn for their season before it even starts."
As Lowe noted, Robinson's absence leaves the Knicks smaller and might hurt their offensive rebounding, which had become a staple of their identity.
The Knicks will likely turn to Sims as their starter, as he's a bigger, more traditional center than Achiuwa. The Knicks can also play "small ball" lineups with Julius Randle and OG Anunoby as their big men, something Tom Thibodeau has suggested he'll try. However, those are likely units that would only play small spurts to avoid taxing Randle and Anunoby too much.
The Knicks could look to trade for another center — which is something they were likely to do anyway — but it's hard to construct a deal until Achiuwa and his $6 million salary become trade-eligible in January. Even then, the Knicks might not be in a rush to trade the player who currently looks like their best, healthiest big man.
The Knicks have found ways to battle through injuries recently, and perhaps the Sims-Achiuwa platoon will be enough. But Robinson's update is a setback for a team gaining momentum with training a camp a week away.
More Knicks news:
Knicks reportedly interested in trade with Pistons for $15 million center
Ranking the Knicks' eight most important players this season
Why few Knicks players actually live in New York City
