After winning a championship with the Knicks this spring, free agent center Mitchell Robinson is leaving New York for Boston. Shams Charania of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that Robinson and the Celtics have agreed to terms on a three-year, $47.4MM deal that will include a third-year player option.
Boston will use its full non-taxpayer mid-level exception to take Robinson away from its division rival, leaving the Celtics hard capped at the first apron, according to Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Twitter link). The deal can’t be structured as a sign-and-trade with New York because of Robinson’s third-year option, Gozlan adds.
The Knicks had the financial resources to offer Robinson the same deal or even a little more, but that would have meant spending into the second apron. Owner James Dolan has been steadfast in his refusal to take the team into second-apron territory and deal with the restrictions that involves.
Robinson is the first major player to leave the Knicks after helping them capture their first NBA title in 53 years. He was invaluable as a backup center, serving as the team’s best rebounder and rim protector. He averaged 5.7 points and 8.8 boards in 60 regular season games (16 starts) and gave New York a game-changing weapon off the bench throughout the playoffs.
A source tells Ian Begley of SNY.tv that the organization still has “a ton of appreciation and respect” for Robinson and views his loss as “a casualty of the situation” (Twitter link). He adds that the Knicks had no path to give Robinson an offer anywhere close to what he got from Boston without exceeding the second apron.
The addition of Robinson solves the Celtics’ search for center help that began when Al Horford and Luke Kornet left the team in free agency last summer. It’s possible that Robinson will continue in a backup role in Boston, but he and Neemias Queta should combine to give the team 48 solid minutes in the middle.
Robinson’s presence won’t affect the Celtics’ plans with Queta, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). Queta is extension eligible this summer after taking over as the primary starter, and the team would like to sign him to a long-term deal. Smith adds that negotiations on a new contract with Queta appear to be “progressing in a positive direction.”
More to come…
