3 pressing Knicks questions that will be answered after All-Star break

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 09: Head coach Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks directs his team during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on January 09, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

2: Who will be cut out of the rotation when Mitchell Robinson returns?

Mitchell Robinson fractured his thumb against Washington on Jan. 18 and had surgery to repair it on Jan. 19. SNY’s Ian Begley reported last week that the center was “making progress” but hasn’t been cleared for contact yet. Hopefully, he’ll be able to return 1-2 weeks after the break.

When Mitch is back, though, that’ll mean that another player will likely be removed from the rotation. Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims have been covering for Robinson in the meantime.

Josh Hart replaced Miles McBride in Tom Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation, so who will be next once Robinson returns? Will it be Sims, who wasn’t playing much before Mitch was injured? Or will it be Obi Toppin, a player Thibodeau has always been reluctant to give minutes to? If we had to guess, it’ll likely wind up being Sims.

New York was reportedly taking calls for Hartenstein leading up to the deadline, but that changed once he started to improve with Robinson out. He’s no Mitch, but he’ll likely go back to being Robinson’s primary backup once the Knicks’ starting center is healthy again. Unfortunately, that’d leave Sims as the odd man out.

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