Knicks get brutal Mitchell Robinson injury update

The Knicks’ top center won’t be ready to start the season.Mitchell Robinson hasn’t fully recovered from his May foot surgery and is targeting a December-January return, a league source confirmed Monday.The Knicks, according to a source, are being careful not to rush Robinson back until he’s 100 percent healthy, meaning it could be a longer absence depending on the 26-year-old’s recovery.He underwent surgery in December after suffering a stress fracture in his left ankle, causing Robinson to miss 50 straight games last season.

The injury-prone center returned for the playoffs but was re-injured during a physical battle with Joel Embiid in the opening round.Robinson’s extended recovery leaves a giant hole in the middle after the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency.Although the Knicks have been canvassing the trade market for a center, a league source said the team is currently taking the approach that it’s confident in the roster’s depth and versatility.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 also play small ball with Julius Randle at center, a configuration coach Tom Thibodeau recently teased in an interview with NBA.com.“We’ll probably have to do [center] by committee,” Thibodeau said “We’ll look at some different things, because we have versatility — we could see Julius more at the 5.

I don’t want to do that for long stretches, it would take its toll, but to have him do it for 10 or 15 minutes, I think he can do it well.He also would create a lot of [offensive] advantages.”Robinson has undergone several surgeries the last four years.

He’s missed at least 23 games in three of the past four seasons....