Mitchell Robinson wanted to remain with the New York Knicks rather than join the Boston Celtics, according to an online response he shared with a now-former teammate.
When news of Robinson's three-year, $47.4 million agreement with Boston hit Instagram, Knicks forward OG Anunoby reacted with a frowning emoji. Robinson responded, "I tried brother I didn't want this to happen. Hopefully the truth comes out at some point." He added a few words of encouragement, telling Anunoby to "keep being great."
Fans focused on the first part of Robinson's message. "Dolan is such a cheapskate," one fan wrote on Instagram, referring to Knicks owner James Dolan, adding that Robinson wanted to work it out but that Dolan "tied everyone's hands in the deal."
Dolan had already made clear the Knicks would not take on added NBA luxury taxes to re-sign Robinson. "We cannot go into the second apron," Dolan said on WFAN radio in New York this week, indicating he wants the team's payroll to stay below $222 million for the upcoming season.
How the salary cap rules work
The NBA's soft salary cap is set at $165 million for next season and allows for a number of exceptions. Teams that exceed the $201 million luxury tax threshold face rising penalties for spending above $209 million, known as the first apron, or $222 million, the second apron. Only a handful of teams have ever gone into the second apron, which limits free agency and trade options, and teams can also face a "repeater" tax for staying above the luxury tax threshold in consecutive seasons.
Some fans were sympathetic. "Y'all need to look up the rules of the second apron," one wrote on Instagram. "It's not something you wanna do as a team it makes no sense to do it."
Robinson's on-court limits
Others pointed to Robinson's offensive shortcomings. He ranks among the league's best post defenders but made less than 41 percent of his free throws in 2025-26, letting opponents foul him with little consequence, and he often sat on coach Mike Brown's bench in critical moments. "The truth is they didn't want to overpay for a guy that is only a threat on one side of the ball and I don't blame the Knicks for their decision," one fan wrote, adding that Robinson "will be missed but he's the one that wanted the payday," unlike captain Jalen Brunson.
Brunson signed for $113 million less than a full max contract extension in 2024, a decision that helped the Knicks end a 53-year title drought with last month's NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Roster moves in Boston and New York
Robinson is joining a Celtics team that has agreed to re-sign center Neemias Queta to a four-year, $56 million extension. Boston will be without 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade that returned two future first-round picks and two second-round picks, as well as 36-year-old Paul George.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are still looking for a defensive-minded backup center to fill in for Karl-Anthony Towns.
