The Knicks’ top center won’t be ready to start the season.
Mitchell Robinson has not fully recovered from foot surgery in May and is targeting a December-January return, a league source confirmed on Monday.
The Knicks, according to a source, are careful not to rush Robinson back until he is 100 percent healthy, meaning it could be an extended absence depending on the 26-year-old’s recovery.
He underwent surgery in December after suffering a stress fracture in his left ankle, which caused Robinson to miss 50 straight games last season.
The injury-prone center returned for the playoffs but was injured again during a physical battle with Joel Embiid in the opening round.
Robinson’s extended recovery leaves a giant hole at center after Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure to the Thunder in free agency.
Although the Knicks have been looking for a center on the trade market, a league source said the team is currently taking the approach that it is confident in the depth and versatility of the roster.
Jericho Sims, who is athletic but unproven, and Precious Achiuwa, who said he prefers to play power forward, follow Robinson on the depth chart.
The Knicks could too play small ball with Julius Randle at centerteased a setup coach Tom Thibodeau recently in an interview with NBA.com.
“We’ll probably have to [center] by committee,” Thibodeau said. Let him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well. He would also create quite a bit [offensive] advantages.”
Robinson has undergone several surgeries over the past four years. He has missed at least 23 games in three of the last four seasons.