The Boston Celtics have made an extremly interesting move by taking a player from their biggest rivals. They have agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with veteran center Mitchell Robinson that includes a player option in the third season.
How We Got Here:
Going into the season, there were countless questions about the Celtics’ big man rotation and whether or not they were talented enough to be there long term. However, they proved that they were capable of playing winning basketball and helped the Celtics finish second in the Eastern Conference.
Nevertheless, in the playoffs, their lack of a true starting-caliber center got exposed by Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, who sent them home in the first round. That raised several questions about what they were going to do to address those issues during free agency.
Robinson, on the other hand, played for the New York Knicks and finished his season holding the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Robinson appeared in 60 games while averaging 5.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in just under 20 minutes per game.
His Impact:
This addresses one of the biggest needs for the Celtics. They have been lacking a true rim defender for quite some time, and that is exactly what Robinson is. Although he may not fill the stat sheet with rebounds and blocks, his ability to alter shots, control the defensive glass, and generate extra possessions with offensive rebounds makes him one of the most impactful role players in the league.
Aside from his defensive abilities, Robinson brings a new crease to the Celtics offense. Although he is not a ture scorer, his ability to generate second chance points which his rebounding will be improtant for the Celtics. Also, his ability to roll to the rim will force defenses to account for him in pick-and-roll situations.
This is an interesting move that gives the Celtics a new look when it comes to their big man rotation. Robinson is coming into be a physical presence for them on the interior as they look to bounce back after a disappointing end to their 2025 season.
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