The New York Knicks’ center depth will be tested early this season.
Fox Sports’ Yaron Weitzman reported As of Monday, starting center Mitchell Robinson is still recovering from foot surgery in May.
According to Weitzman, Robinson will not be ready for the start of the season, with the Knicks targeting a return in December or January, depending on how Robinson’s rehabilitation progresses.
This isn’t an entirely surprising update, as SNY’s Ian Begley previously reported As of August, Robinson had not yet done any weight-bearing exercises on his foot. Robinson’s status for the season opener against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 22 was already uncertain.
It’s a discouraging update, though, given Robinson’s importance to the Knicks.
If Robinson were to return on January 1, he would still miss the Knicks’ first 31 games. It’s entirely possible Robinson could miss more than half the season again, just one year after playing in just 31 games.
In the meantime, it will be a major test for the Knicks’ already depleted rotation. Behind Robinson are Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims.
Although Achiuwa played a lot of minutes for the Knicks last season due to injuries, he is still a developmental player. He is also a bit too small to play center full-time.
Sims has the natural build of a center, but he has played sparingly, appearing in 138 games over three seasons. He has had to play big minutes at times due to injuries, but never full-time, and not for a team with championship ambitions.
Given Achiuwa’s size limitations and the adjustments head coach Tom Thibodeau has made in the past, Sims could start the season as the starting center. Sims started 11 games last year due to injuries.
Thibodeau could also be forced to consider playing in “small” lineups, with Julius Randle at center. Thibodeau has talked about trying those lineups before, and it could be especially important with Robinson out. The Knicks’ small lineups would allow them to play more of their guards and wings both ways, which is a strength of the roster.
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