The Knicks are losing the longest-tenured player from their championship roster.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Boston Celtics. The deal reportedly includes a player option in the third season, giving Robinson the chance to re-enter free agency before turning 31.
The departure closes the book on an eight-year run in New York that saw Robinson evolve from an intriguing (and very raw) second-round project into one of the league’s premier offensive rebounders and rim protectors. Drafted 36th overall in 2018, Robinson outlasted front office changes, coaches, and roster overhauls before finally reaching the mountaintop as a key reserve on this season’s championship team.
While Karl-Anthony Towns occupied the starting center spot, Robinson remained one of the Knicks’ most important role players. His ability to erase mistakes at the rim, dominate the offensive glass and change the physicality of games made him a perfect complement to New York’s skill-heavy starting lineup. He was especially valuable in the postseason, where his rebounding and interior defense frequently swung momentum.
Boston’s interest is obvious. The Celtics have been searching for more size and defensive muscle in the frontcourt, and Robinson gives them exactly that without demanding touches on offense. If healthy, he projects as a major piece of Boston’s rotation and adds another wrinkle to what is already shaping up to be one of the Eastern Conference’s biggest rivalries.
The move also creates a significant hole for the Knicks. Behind Towns, New York’s center depth is suddenly much thinner—especially after losing Ariel Hukporti to the Philadelphia 76ers. The organization has expressed confidence in young big men before, but replacing Robinson’s unique combination of elite rebounding, shot-blocking, and playoff experience won’t be easy. Whether the answer comes through free agency, a trade, or internal development, the center spot immediately becomes one of the front office’s top priorities.
For many of us, this is a sad day under the orange-and-blue skies. Over the years, we watched our favorite jester go from goofy to great. Injuries and the inability to score anywhere beyond two feet from the rim have always been the cloud that hangs over Mitch, and the reluctance to pay him a starter’s salary for reserve minutes is understandable, but the loss in the rebounding column and locker room will certainly be felt as the Knicks begin another march toward the Finals. His final season in New York concluded with a parade down Broadway. Now he’ll join the enemy in their attempts to prevent another. Yeah, that really stings.
Thanks for everything, Big Country. Go Knicks.
