Celtics sign Mitchell Robinson to three-year $47.4M deal

The Boston Celtics have signed free agent center Mitchell Robinson to a three-year, $47.4 million contract, the team’s most significant move as the NBA’s free agency negotiating period opened on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Robinson, a key contributor to the New York Knicks’ championship victory just weeks ago, will join the Celtics after eight seasons in New York.

The agreement, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, includes a player option for the third year and carries an average annual value of $15.8 million. The Celtics will use their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception to complete the signing, a mechanism that will hard-cap the team at the league’s first apron. The deal could not be structured as a sign-and-trade due to the inclusion of the player option.

Robinson’s departure from New York marks the end of an era, as he was the longest-tenured Knick and the last remaining player from the team’s 2018 draft class. He played a pivotal role as a backup center during the Knicks’ playoff run, which culminated in the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973 with a Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs. In the decisive Game 5, Robinson secured 10 rebounds, including a critical...