Rose may miss road trip
Derrick Rose could miss the Knicks’ four-game road trip, which starts the postAll-Star break schedule, because of undisclosed COVID-19 issues.
Rose, who has missed the past two games after a test came up inconclusive in San Antonio on March 2, was not with the team in Milwaukee for Wednesday’s practice. He has been ruled out for Thursday’s game versus the Bucks.
The Knicks won’t say if Rose tested positive after the inconclusive test but Thursday will be Day 9 since the San Antonio test. The Knicks announced he’s out for safety protocols.
According to a source, the league mandates a player to be out 10 days, then an additional two days for workouts.
“To be honest I can’t answer that because I don’t know,’’ Thibodeau said when asked if he’ll rejoin the club during the trip. “I’m following what Dr. [Lisa] Callahan and what the league says. Once there’s clearance he’ll be available. When we get updated, we’ll update you guys. You’ve seen it throughout the league how it’s been handled. We know it’s serious it is with COVID and we want to take every safety precaution we can.’’
The league announced Wednesday that two unidentified players had tested positive since March 3. Rose was reportedly supposed to take a new test March 3 and needed a negative test to be cleared for the March 4 game against the Pistons.
Elfrid Payton will remain the starting point guard, but Rose’s absence means Frank Ntilikina will continue in the rotation.
“I like the depth,’’ Thibodeau said.
➤ Center Mitchell Robinson (broken hand) was reevaluated, but Thibodeau didn’t sound like he was ready to come back very soon.
“There’s still no set timetable,’’ Thibodeau said. “He’s starting to do more. We’re probably a little ways away. But the conditioning, he’s been very diligent in putting extra work in, so his conditioning is pretty good. The basketball part, he hasn’t been able to scrimmage or anything like that. But he’s handling the ball with his left hand and doing a lot of running. We just have to be patient and let it run its course.’’
➤ Backup center Taj Gibson was upgraded to questionable to play Thursday and returned to portions of practice.
➤ Immanuel Quickley didn’t make the honorary Rising Stars roster because of the format that fills out a World Team with international players.
“At the end of the year or end of my career, whatever happens everything will pan out and I’ll get what I deserve at the end,’’ Quickley said. “I definitely feel like I could have been selected. Just use it as a motivating factor.’’