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Report: Knicks Cleanthony Early expected to miss 2-3 months after being shot

2014 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot

TARRYTOWN, NY - AUGUST 03: Cleanthony Early #17 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2014 NBA rookie photo shoot at MSG Training Center on August 3, 2014 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

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Knicks forward Cleanthony Early, after being shot in his knee during a robbery early yesterday morning, apparently suffered no structural damage to the knee.

What exactly does that mean for his return to the court?

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports:

Early is expected to need two to three months to recover, league sources said, with his week-to-week timetable potentially changing, depending on his rehabilitation.

Considering the initial news, that seems pretty great.

Unfortunately for Early, that’ll leave him only a month and a half or less to make an impression entering free agency. Early has played just 34 minutes in 10 games this season – not nearly enough to show he could turn the promise he flashed during his rookie season into steady production. Early’s best selling point might be the potential he showed at Wichita State, but that’s a tough pitch for someone who will be 25 by the time free agency hits.

At least it sounds as if Early will play again this season, which is a much better situation than it could’ve been.