Free agent center Mitchell Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's NBA insider Shams Charania. The multi-year deal to join the New York Knicks' rival includes a player option in the third season.
The exit comes just weeks after New York clinched its first NBA Championship in 53 years against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
The 28-year-old center was the longest-tenured player on the Knicks' championship roster after spending eight seasons with the franchise. Robinson and guard Miles McBride were the only two rotation players on the championship team originally drafted by New York. The Knicks selected Robinson in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft with the 36th overall pick.
Championship run and injury recovery
Robinson served as a key contributor during the championship run despite battling back from a broken right pinky finger suffered between the Eastern Conference finals and the NBA Finals. He averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes during the postseason.
He played 60 games in the 2025 regular season, his most appearances since the 2022-23 season due to injuries. In his eight seasons with New York, Robinson averaged 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in just under 24 minutes a game.
Knicks second apron limits
Knicks owner James Dolan has made it clear that he intends the team to stay under the salary cap's second apron. New York already secured two of its top three free agents, Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet, to multiyear deals.
That left the organization roughly $9 million under the second apron and needing to sign three players heading into free agency, which began on Tuesday.