Recent injury news further highlights damage Thunder inflicted on East contender

This summer, the OKC Thunder proved to be one of the most active organizations in the entire association.

From NBA Draft day activities to their utilization of the league's trade market, Sam Presti and company seemed to hit every avenue this league has to offer in their efforts to add on new players to strengthen their rotation ahead of 2024-25.

Arguably their most notable acquisition came via the beginning stages of July's free agency period, as the Thunder managed to snatch up highly touted big man, Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $87 million deal on day two of the festivities.

Following a career 2023-24 campaign, the 26-year-old was heavily sought after on the open market, with several big man-needy clubs reportedly vying for his services before Oklahoma City swooped in and, as Vito Corleone would say, gave him an offer he couldn't refuse.

And while his addition to coach Mark Daigneault's rotation appears to be something that provides them with the "one thing they were missing" last year, his departure from his former employers, the New York Knicks seems to grow more detrimental for them by the day, and the recent injury news about their current center rotation only further highlights this unfortunate reality.

Mitchell Robinson news further highlights Thunder's impact on Knicks

On Monday, SNY reporter Ian Begley dropped a report on his personal X account that primary center, Mitchell Robinson will "not be ready for the start of the regular season" as he continues his rehab process following "offseason ankle surgery."

Outside of the clear obvious part that the big man is slated to be out for the early stages of the upcoming campaign, the brutal reality of this news is that they no longer have the depth at the five they did last season with Hartenstein in tow.

A major factor in New York's impressive successes last season was their ability to abide by a "next man up" approach, as their roster was stocked up with quality reserves at virtually every position, particularly center.

Robinson has a long history of health-related ailments limiting his availability on the hardwood, as he's played in 60 or more games just three times throughout his soon-to-be seven-year professional career and has logged as little as 31 games twice.

Last year was one of these 31-game campaigns, as he struggled with an ankle injury for a large chunk of the season.

In his place, the Knicks rolled with Hartenstein as their primary pivot, a move that proved quite successful as they went 32-17 in such outings while the sixth-year pro boasted averages of 8.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks on 66.3 percent shooting from the floor.

Now, even before the start of the regular season, New York once again finds itself without the services of Robinson and, sadly, no longer have I-Hart to hold down the fort in his absence.

If it wasn't already obvious that the offseason decision-making of the Thunder had a serious impact on the title-hopeful Knicks, this recent buzz will certainly make it so.