Mitchell Robinson is trading in a championship ring for a fresh start in Boston. The Celtics have agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the veteran center, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, addressing their most glaring roster need almost immediately once free agency opened.
Celtics Add Rim Protection After Robinson’s Title Run
Robinson spent his entire eight-year career with the Knicks after New York drafted him 36th overall in 2018. He played a crucial role this spring as the Knicks captured their first NBA championship since 1973, battling injuries throughout the postseason while helping slow down Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.
However, New York simply could not keep him. Owner James Dolan has remained firm on avoiding the luxury tax’s second apron, and matching Robinson’s market value would have pushed the roster over that threshold. As a result, the Knicks watched their longest tenured player walk.
Over 397 regular season games with New York, Robinson averaged 7.5 points, 8 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.7 blocks per outing. In 53 career playoff appearances, he posted 4.9 points and 7 rebounds a night. Despite a poor free throw percentage that opposing teams often exploited, his rebounding instincts and rim protection remain elite league wide.
Boston clearly noticed. The Celtics lost Al Horford’s interior presence and struggled to replace his defensive impact at the five. Robinson instantly fills that void, and pairing him with Neemias Queta gives Boston a physical two big rotation capable of anchoring the paint for a full 48 minutes.
The deal includes a player option for the third season, giving Robinson flexibility down the road. Furthermore, Boston still has work ahead as it navigates the first apron restrictions this signing creates. Still, for a team eliminated in the first round last postseason, adding proven interior toughness marks a meaningful step forward.
