The Knicks are already shorthanded.

They will begin their season without two key pieces, as Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson are out for Wednesday’s opener against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Neither practiced on Tuesday.

Hart’s absence — he is dealing with lumbar spasms, per a league source — makes sense . But Robinson’s lack of availability raises plenty of questions.

The Knicks publicly maintain that Robinson, who was set to move into the starting lineup with Hart going to the bench to lead the second unit, is not hurt, but rather that it is load management.

“If we deemed it necessary, could he possibly go? Yeah, he could possibly go,” coach Mike Brown said Tuesday.

If Robinson can play… why isn’t he? It’s not as if the Knicks have a back-to-back looming or are coming

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