NBA denies notable request from Knicks

The New York Knicks are getting shut down by the NBA this week, but they probably aren’t too mad about it in the grand scheme of things.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported Wednesday that the NBA has denied the Knicks the $7.8 million disabled player exception that they had applied for in the wake of the injury to center Mitchell Robinson. Wojnarowski passes along that the denial is based on the fact there is now optimism that Robinson will be able to return to play late in the regular season.

The 25-year-old Robinson, a shot-blocking and high-leaping seven-footer, went down last month with an ankle injury and had to undergo surgery. It was a rough break for Robinson – who posted a heartbreaking message about the injury – and the Knicks applied for the DPE with the expectation that he would miss the rest of the season.

With the NBA denying the Knicks’ request, New York will now be unable to sign an additional big man to help them out in the meantime. But the Knicks will certainly take it overall, as it means that Robinson could be back in time for the late-season seeding push as well as for the playoffs. Isaiah Hartenstein (who replaced Robinson in the starting five and has posted superb advanced metrics ever since) and the newly acquired Precious Achiuwa will continue to hold down the fort at center until then.