Knicks figuring out ways of replacing Mitchell Robinson

GREENBURGH — Jalen Brunson was asked how the Knicks will adjust to life without Mitchell Robinson.

The essence of the point guard’s response was three words. “Next man up,” Brunson said after practice at the MSG Training Center on Friday.

Amid conflicting reports, the Knicks will be without Robinson for at least the foreseeable future after left ankle surgery performed last week. Coach Tom Thibodeau would not give a definitive answer about whether the 7-footer will miss the remainder of the regular season.

The team announced on Dec. 11 that Robinson would have the procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery and would be reevaluated in eight to 10 weeks.

“He’s being reevaluated,” Thibodeau said. “So he had the surgery. Successful and it’s a normal process. So once he’s reevaluated, you have more information and you have a good idea of what will transpire.”

It is the interim that is somewhat unclear.

After the Knicks’ 121-102 win over the Nets on Wednesday, The Athletic reported that Robinson is expected to miss the remainder of the season and, as a result, the organization has applied to receive a $7.8 million disabled player exception from the NBA.

The Knicks have not issued a statement about Robinson’s status, though, and Thibodeau said he is unsure if or when his starting center will return.

“I don’t know exactly where it stands," said Thibodeau, who later described The Athletic’s report as speculation. "To me, I think that would be more of a Leon  question [team president Leon Rose]. They have to do all the things they need to do, their due diligence on every possibility. So I think that’s where that lies.”

The Knicks promoted Jericho Sims to the starting lineup before their 136-130 win over Toronto on Dec. 11 and announced the signing of Taj Gibson four days later to provide additional size off the bench. But the Knicks lost Sims for at least seven to 10 days when he sprained his right ankle on the opening tap in Monday’s 114-109 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Without Robinson and Sims, Isaiah Hartenstein started at center against the Nets and was backed up by Gibson.

“Everybody’s just adjusting to different roles, different opportunities, playing different minutes, playing with different groups,” Julius Randle said on Friday. “So just learning each other, different rotations and then [developing] chemistry. Guys are working hard." 

Part of those changing responsibilities could be Thibodeau using a small-ball lineup with Randle at center, something in the past that he has been loath to do.

“I think you can do it for a short stretch,” Thibodeau said. “But you can’t do it for an extended stretch. Everything is on the table, and depending upon who they have on the floor will really determine who you have on the floor. So if the other team goes small, whether it’s Julius — or as I said before, Josh [Hart] can guard all five positions. So we have options.”