What Mitchell Robinson's injury means for rest of Knicks season

The Knicks are on a tricky path to title contention.

The franchise has put together a quality roster while also maintaining flexibility and dipping its toe into superstar trade talks. It’s a tricky way to build a team, but New York’s conservative approach has largely worked.

That approach will be tested with the recent injury news for the Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson. New York’s hopes of making a splash in the postseason took a hit earlier this week when it was revealed the team applied for a Disabled Player Exception for the starting center.

The filing means the Knicks believe there’s a distinct possibility Robinson will miss the rest of the regular season. NBA doctors will determine whether the Knicks are granted the exception which -- if successful -- will be half of Robinson’s salary, or $7.8 million. The injury was originally believed to be 8-10 weeks.

New York will miss Robinson. He made an early case for a spot on one of the NBA’s two All-Defensive Teams thanks to a 7-foot-4 wingspan and wacky, waving, inflatable tube-like arms that gummed up the opposition’s offensive forays into the paint.

Robinson also proved to be a key driver to New York’s top offense thanks to his penchant for offensive rebounds. The seven-footer led the association in offensive rebound rate. His ability to dominate the glass has had a team-wide impact. The Knicks are tied for first in offensive rebound rate this season and finished second in the category last year.

Though Jalen Brunson will get most of the credit for New York’s success during its playoff run last season, Robinson was a major X-factor. He had 29 of New York’s 75 offensive rebounds (38.6 percent) in its first-round series win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks can get by with Robinson’s understudy, Isaiah Hartenstein, sopping up a majority of the minutes at center throughout the regular season. The club actually has a better net rating with him on the floor (though there’s some noise in that number) and he’s proven to be one of the best backup bigs in the NBA the past season.

Much like Robinson, he doesn’t score much, but Hartenstein has improved as a rim protector and is a good and willing passer. The big man is no slouch on the glass, either, as he is ranked fourth in offensive rebound rate (14.2 percent).

Even with Robinson in the lineup, the Knicks have been viewed as a good team but not good enough to be a contender. New York is currently tied with the Orlando Magic for fourth place in the Eastern Conference behind the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

It also doesn’t help that New York is a combined 0-5 against the Celtics and Bucks (they haven’t played the 76ers yet). That makes two consecutive home games against the Bucks on Saturday and on Christmas even more important.

Without Robinson, a small-ish Knicks team lacks even more size and loses a cheat code offensive rebounder that propped up a wobbly half-court offense. It will be hard to win a playoff series if the Knicks can’t knock down open shots. New York was dared to last year and missed more often than not.

What the Knicks can do to replace Robinson

In addition to Hartenstein, the Knicks have the currently injured third-year center Jericho Sims and veteran Taj Gibson. It’s hard to envision either playing serious minutes in a playoff series. That invites the question, should the Knicks add another center later this season?

The Knicks can use the DPE in a trade, but they are hard-capped at $172.3 million and are limited financially in salary they can take back in a trade. They can only acquire players on expiring deals or sign a player to a one-year deal.

There will be options the team can pursue. Maybe Chicago Bulls backup center Andre Drummond becomes available or the rebuilding Utah Jazz decide to move backup Kelly Olynyk in the final year of his contract? Veteran centers Alex Len and Mason Plumlee are also names to look at. The Knicks could even keep the reunion going and re-sign their former center and current free agent Nerlens Noel.

There’s no equal replacement to Robinson’s unique contributions, though, which lessens what was already slim contending hopes.