Celtics agree to three-year deal with Mitchell Robinson, AP source says

The Boston Celtics have reached an agreement with center Mitchell Robinson on a three-year, $47.4 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal cited by The Associated Press and first reported by Yahoo Sports. Robinson, listed at 7 feet, has spent his entire NBA career with the New York Knicks since being selected in the second round of the 2018 draft. If the agreement is finalized as reported, it marks a significant offseason swing for Boston as it tries to reload around defense and interior presence.

Robinson comes to Boston fresh off an NBA title run with the Knicks, a context that matters for a team trying to maintain stability after being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The report places Robinson in a central role for the Celtics in the coming season, specifically because his skill set has been built around protecting the rim and finishing lobs and short-range plays near the basket.

The Celtics, after winning 56 games and earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, were eliminated in the first round of the postseason. Boston’s offseason, therefore, has been framed around what comes next after a season that delivered home-court positioning but did not translate into a deeper run. Rim protection is one of the most direct answers coaches and front offices look for when playoff offenses begin to tighten and interior scoring and offensive rebounding become major swing factors.

For Robinson, the move also represents the first change of jersey in an eight-year NBA stretch that began in 2018. With the Knicks, his defining value has typically been tied to his shot-altering defense, his physical finishing ability as a vertical threat, and his ability to impact games through timing and effort around the basket. Those are the kinds of traits that translate well to playoff matchups, where centers often serve as both screen-and-roll anchors and the last line of defense.

Boston’s agreement with Robinson fits the general pattern of how the Celtics have approached lineup construction, seeking dependable defenders and strong role players who can raise the floor even as rotations change from series to series. Robinson’s reported salary and contract length, three years and $47.4 million, suggest the organization is viewing him as more than a short-term placeholder. In practice, that means he would be expected to hold meaningful minutes and help shape the Celtics’ defensive matchups in the paint.

There is still some uncertainty that typically accompanies deals reported through league sources rather than a fully published contract document. As of this writing, the reporting describes agreement terms but does not independently verify every detail through an official Celtics or NBA transaction announcement. Fans should watch for an official team release once the contract is formally registered and announced by the league.