The New York Knicks were expecting to be without the anchor of their defense, Mitchell Robinson, for the rest of the season. However, that may no longer be the case.
The Knicks have been on a roll over the last week. Following their surprising blockbuster trade for Toronto Raptors star OG Anunoby last month, the team has caught fire and won five straight. During that hot streak, they even scored decisive victories over two of the best teams in the NBA this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.
It is a major change in fortunes for the franchise because a couple of weeks ago they were at the back of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference. Now they head into their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday a game and a half out from the third seed in the East’s NBA standings.
Before the Anunoby deal, the Knicks were struggling as they had trouble filling the void of starting center Mitchell Robinson. Early in December, he went down with an ankle injury that required surgery and the hope was he would be back in time for the NBA playoffs. However, a report after the surgery suggested he was likely done for the season.
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Robinson was having the best season of his career as he was the heart of a New York defense that was one of the best in the league when he was on the floor, and he was also a monster on the boards. His loss seemed like a hole they would have trouble adequately filling before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Well, they may not have to now.
On Wednesday night, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley reported that the NBA had denied the organization’s request for a Disabled Player Exception to free up more cap space this season. “League doctors didn’t find sufficient evidence to suggest Robinson might be out for six months, league sources confirmed.”
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Due to the denial, Begley notes that the New York Knicks front office is now “optimistic” that Robinson can return late in the season from the stress fracture he incurred in his ankle.
Backup Isiah Hartenstein has done a superb job in replacing Robinson in the starting lineup and brings more offensive elements to the starting rotation. However, if Robinson can return — along with the addition of Anunoby — the Knicks could have an elite-level defense and even better rebounding heading into the NBA playoffs.
