Mitchell Robinson Joins Celtics: Why the Knicks Let Their Center Walk Away

Why the Knicks Let Robinson Walk

The New York Knicks’ decision to let Robinson depart was not solely a matter of payroll. While SI.com reports the move was partly a casualty of the second apron salary threshold—which limits a team’s total spending—the front office faced significant risks regarding Robinson’s health and conditioning. Robinson’s availability has been a persistent issue. Over the last four years, he missed 22, 65, 51, and 23 games respectively. Although he appeared in 60 games this most recent season—his highest total since 2021-22—his history makes him an injury risk. The tension peaked just before the Finals when he suffered a hand injury. Beyond health, his offensive limitations created strategic liabilities. Robinson holds the worst free throw percentage in NBA playoffs history for players with at least 50 attempts, shooting 35.5%. His regular season performance was equally problematic, finishing with a career-low 40.8%.

The Celtics’ Strategy: From “Hack-a-Mitch” to Teammate

The irony of the signing is that Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla spent the 2025 playoffs actively trying to remove Robinson from the game. As The New York Times detailed, Mazzulla employed an aggressive intentional fouling strategy, instructing players like Torrey Craig to foul Robinson immediately upon his entry to the floor. “He’s a huge factor to what they do,” and “I’m going to find ways to negate that.” Joe Mazzulla, during the 2025 playoffs Mazzulla’s ability to negate Robinson’s impact now shifts to maximizing it. The Celtics viewed Robinson as the best available option in a thin market of unrestricted free agent big men, especially after other targets like Robert Williams chose to stay with their current teams.

Analyzing the Fit: Rim Protection and Rebounding

Boston is acquiring a specialist who excels in specific, high-impact areas. According to the Boston Herald, Robinson’s impact is most evident in the following metrics:

• Offensive Rebounding: Ranked in the 100th percentile among big men per Cleaning the Glass.
• Defensive Versatility: Ranked in the 87th percentile in block percentage and 95th percentile in steal percentage.
• Efficiency: Posted a 72.3% effective field-goal percentage.

The addition of Robinson addresses a critical void in Boston’s frontcourt. The Celtics jumped from 18th to fifth in team-wide offensive rebound percentage this season, and Robinson’s arrival is expected to push that further. He shares a career offensive rebound rate of 17.2 percent with NBA legend Dennis Rodman. However, the Celtics must accept a complete lack of spacing. More than 90% of Robinson’s career field-goal attempts have occurred within three feet of the basket.

Frontcourt Depth and Salary Implications

Robinson enters a rotation that includes Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. While Garza offers better three-point shooting—hitting a career-best 43.3% this season—his athletic limitations are a concern for the playoffs. Queta remains a traditional interior scorer, though he struggled with foul trouble during the first round. The financial structure of the deal places the Celtics in a tight spot. By using the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the team is now hard-capped at the first apron for the season, meaning their total salary cannot exceed $209 million.

Player	Primary Strength	Primary Weakness
Mitchell Robinson	Elite OREB / Rim Protection	Free Throw Shooting / Health
Neemias Queta	Interior Scoring	Postseason Consistency
Luka Garza	3-Point Shooting (43.3%)	Athleticism

The Stakes for 2027 and Beyond

For the Celtics, the gamble is whether Robinson’s elite rim protection and rebounding outweigh his volatility. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens had repeatedly stated the need for an upgrade at center following a first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. “He’s just a winner,” Brad Stevens The Knicks, meanwhile, avoid a high-priced contract for a player whose value could have plummeted if his health declined further. By letting him walk, New York removes a liability that opposing coaches—including Mazzulla—had already figured out how to exploit. The next 30 days will determine how quickly Robinson integrates into a system that previously viewed him as a target for intentional fouls. If he remains healthy, he provides the interior presence Boston has lacked; if he doesn’t, the Celtics will have spent a significant portion of their cap space on a player who cannot stay on the floor.

Find more reporting in our Sport news section.