The Knicks will be without Julius Randle for at least one game, likely at least a few weeks and perhaps for the season.
How do they replace him?
They don’t — there is no available stud forward who will average an efficient 24 points and 9.2 rebounds — but they will have to try.
“Our mentality is always next man up,” Jalen Brunson said after Saturday’s win over the Heat at the Garden, the Knicks’ sixth straight. “We got to stick together. We can’t just have one person pick up the slack or anything.”
After Randle dislocated his right shoulder Saturday, there was no further update apart from his sitting out for the first time this season Monday in Charlotte.
The natural move for coach Tom Thibodeau would be to move OG Anunoby to power forward and insert Josh Hart into the starting lineup.
Alternatively, the Knicks could opt for a bigger lineup with Precious Achiuwa or favor shooting and turn to Quentin Grimes — but a small-ball lineup with the energetic Hart seems the most likely.
Without Randle, Jericho Sims — who has played in 22 games and averaged just 7.8 minutes — likely will see more of a role.
As may Anunoby, who has averaged 35.7 minutes with the Knicks and might be asked for even more, particularly against teams with big, powerful wings.
The Knicks’ forward depth is suddenly quite shallow.
As is their shot creation.
Monday’s game in Charlotte will be the first test without Randle, and perhaps the Hornets will swarm to double-team Brunson.
It will be curious to see whether Randle’s injury accelerates a trade.
Ever since off-loading Immanuel Quickley, the Knicks have been short an offensive spark off the bench, which had placed a larger onus on Brunson and Randle.
Without Randle, the problem only will be exacerbated.
Among those rumored to be possible targets are the Raptors’ Bruce Brown, the Trail Blazers’ Malcolm Brogdon, the Pistons’ Alec Burks and the Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson.
There has been plenty of debate concerning the play that injured Randle.
He drove to the hoop while up 17 in the closing minutes, and Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. slid over and attempted to take a charge.
For his part, Thibodeau did not feel there was anything dirty about it.
“The thing is, both teams are hard playing, so there’s going to be a lot of tough plays like that,” Thibodeau said Saturday. “You don’t want to see it. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt on our team or their team.But that’s part of the game. … The only way you can guarantee someone not getting hurt is you never play.”
LaMelo Ball (ankle), who missed Saturday’s loss to the Jazz, is questionable.
As is former Knick Frank Ntilikina (hip), who has played in just three games this season — all coming within the Hornets’ past six games.
Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams are out.
