Latest Julius Randle health update could complicate Knicks’ playoff path

The latest update on Julius Randle’s injured shoulder could complicate the Knicks’ playoff path.

The team announced Thursday that Randle’s dislocated shoulder will be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks. It was initially reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that there was optimism Randle would miss weeks, not months, but now it appears he could be out for a significant period.

That, in turn, could complicate the team’s playoff path.

Winners of eight straight, the Knicks (31-17) are currently the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks but only 1/2 game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and one game ahead of the 76ers.

The Knicks have won their last two games without Randle entering Thursday’s game with the Indiana Pacers while players like Donte DiVincenzo have stepped up. But it’s unclear how long the Knicks can keep this going without Randle. OG Anunoby also missed his second this week Thursday with right elbow inflammation.

If the Knicks slip down in the standings to the 4, 5 or 6 range without Randle, it could complicate their playoff path, potentially even forcing them to play a first-round series on the road against one of the East’s elite teams, the Bucks or Sixers, or potentially the Cavaliers, Pacers or Heat. (They would have to slip all the way to 8 to face the Boston Celtics at this point.)

“I don’t like shoulder injuries, guys,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on air. “I know that he may have avoided needing surgery right now. Shoulder injuries, especially dislocated shoulders, bother players for months. They re-occur. And while the Knicks have shown a good ability to make up for Mitchell Robinson, I think they’ve got to consider the trade market.”

The Knicks are optimistic that Robinson will return this season after undergoing left ankle surgery, and also signed Taj Gibson to a 10-day contract after the Randle injury.

One doctor told NJ Advance Media that Randle, who is averaging 24.0 points 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists, could return in 2-4 weeks, but it’s unclear at this point when exactly he’ll be back.

“Most likely, since it was said that his return would just take a few weeks, is that the injury is isolated mainly to the labrum and ligaments holding the shoulder in place and does not significantly involve the rotator cuff.,” Dr. Michael Alaia, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone Orthopedics, said via email. “If this is true, he can be expected to be out for 2-4 weeks. Once he displays full, painless range of motion without apprehension (the sensation of instability) and full shoulder and scapular strength, he will likely be allowed to return.

Asked if he would return at 100 percent, Alaia said: “Ideally, yes, he will return to 100 percent, but nothing is ever guaranteed. One of the biggest issues with a shoulder dislocation in a contact athlete is a recurrent dislocation, which can happen as often as 85-90% during the course of a lifetime in a patient that is…a military recruit or elite contact athlete.

“As the shoulder continues to dislocate, other structures, such as the rotator cuff tendons, bone of the humeral head (ball) and/or glenoid (socket), and cartilage (lining of the joint) can become damaged. Recurrence usually requires surgery to prevent more and more dislocations and further damage.”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.