NBA declines Knicks’ application for disabled player exception

NBA declines Knicks’ application for disabled player exception

The NBA declined the New York Knicks’ application for a $7.8 million exception–which would’ve been granted due to Mitchell Robinson’s knee–because of optimism that Robinson would be able to return this season, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.

ESPN Sources: NBA is denying the Knicks a $7.8 million Disabled Player Exception for loss of Mitchell Robinson, because there’s optimism that Robinson can return from ankle surgery to play late in regular season. Knicks could be getting back one of league’s best defensive… pic.twitter.com/W9qaOy63Lq

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2024

The Knicks applied in late December after it was reported that Robinson was expected to miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

The disabled player exception (DPE) would’ve granted the Knicks the ability to sign or trade for a player in the final year of his contract within the confines of the DPE amount. In this case, it would’ve been $7.8 million, half of Robinson’s $15.7 million 2023-24 salary (per Spotrac).

Robinson, 25, has appeared in 21 games for the Knicks this season, last appearing on Dec. 8 against the Boston Celtics (19 minutes). He was averaging 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, despite sporting career-worsts in effective field goal (59.2) and true-shooting percentages (56.7).

NBA Trade Grades: OG Anunoby to Knicks

He was having a career year rebounding, however. He owned career best in total rebounding percentage (19.6) and offensive rebounding percentage (20.3), helping the Knicks be one of the league’s most formidable rebounding squads. Robinson’s also tamed down his fouling while being one of the more feared shot-blockers in the sport.

Whether Robinson returns this season or not, the Knicks still own trade exceptions worth $6.8 and $5.2 million to use ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline. Though they are hard-capped below the first tax apron–at $172 million–after using nearly their full mid-level exception to add Donte DiVincenzo in the offseason.

Thus, their flexibility in the trade market doesn’t change all that much with the league declining this. They still own a myriad of tradeable picks plus different trade chips they could consolidate if they want to swing big at the deadline.

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