The New York Knicks now expect starting center Mitchell Robinson to miss the rest of the season, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Shams reported that the team has been granted a Disabled Player Exception.

The DPE is normally only granted if doctors think the player is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through June 15, per Fred Katz. The Knicks probably wouldn’t have applied for the exception had they expected him to be back before then.

On Dec. 8, Robinson came out of the game against the Boston Celtics after suffering what was thought to be an ankle sprain. Both, Robinson and Tom Thibodeau had stated it wasn’t serious. Just last week, Robinson underwent ankle surgery with the Knicks announcing he would be re-evaluated in eight-to-10 weeks. The team never announced the exact nature of the surgery but according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Mitchell Robinson had to have screws put in during the operation.

The injury is a big blow for the Knicks who are playing well this season, currently fifth in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks through 21 games (29.2 minutes). Robinson is known around the league as a premier offensive rebounder and a defensive anchor.

If the Knicks are granted the DPE, it would be worth $7,840,909, which is half of Robinson’s salary for ’23/24. That added salary would be enough to add a veteran center or a different position. The Knicks currently have a full roster, so they would have to waive someone like Ryan Arcidiacono or DaQuan Jeffries to create some roster flexibility. With Robinson out, Jericho Sims is likely to be the team’s starting center, though he is also out right now with an ankle sprain.

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