Mitchell Robinson doesn’t need to put up points to change how Boston’s offense works.
That’s the bigger idea behind the Celtics’ offseason move for him, and it’s why his value goes well beyond the usual talking points about defense and offensive rebounding. On media day, Robinson made it clear he sees screening as a real weapon for this group, and he said it plainly: “I can get Tatum open. My screening, just alone, I think I can get a lot of guys open”
That kind of confidence matters because it matches what the numbers have already suggested. Robinson’s screening can shape possessions before a shot ever goes up, and Boston has plenty of players who stand to benefit from that.
Jayson Tatum is the obvious name, but he won’t be the only one. Derrick White thrives in dribble-hand-off action, Payton Pritchard can work comfortably in the pick-and-roll, and Paul George should get easier looks too. Once Robinson starts freeing up space, the ripple effect can reach well beyond the top of the order.
The Celtics also have a deep group of catch-and-shoot threats who should profit from cleaner windows. Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Hugo Gonzalez are all in position to step into easier shots when Robinson does the dirty work of creating separation.
That matters even more when you compare this version of Boston to the one that had Jaylen Brown. Brown brought volume and tough shot-making, but he wasn’t especially efficient on most of his actions. With him gone, more usage is going to fall to players who may actually be able to turn those touches into better production, especially if the path to those shots is smoother.
Tatum, in particular, has always been dangerous with a strong screen partner beside him. Now Boston expects to have that kind of help for 48 minutes a night with Robinson, Neemias Queta, and Luka Garza sharing that responsibility.
The offense is going to look different. That part is unavoidable.
But the Celtics believe different can also mean better, and that the overall product can end up stronger even without anyone trying to replace Brown’s scoring by themselves. The logic is simple: more players in better spots, more easy looks, more efficient possessions.
Robinson’s screening is a big reason Boston thinks that can happen.
In Other News...
Celtics Still Carry One Surprising 2026-27 Ceiling After Major Change
Stephen Nohs latest projection for Boston still leaves plenty of optimism on the table, even after a major roster change. He has the Celtics winning 54 games and claiming the No. 1 seed in the East in 2026-27, a forecast built around Jayson Tatum getting back to All-NBA form after injury and Boston finding useful production from Paul George and Mitchell Robinson.
For a team that just moved on from Jaylen Brown, that kind of ceiling says the framework in Boston is still viewed as strong enough to survive a jarring shakeup. The bigger question is whether the Celtics can keep the important pieces on the floor long enough for that upside to matter, because the outlook hinges just as much on health and availability as it does on talent. [Read more 🡒]
NBA Officiating Change Just Put An Ex-Celtics Star In Focus
The NBA is heading into the 2026-27 season with a fresh officiating focus, and it could have a familiar feel for Celtics fans. The league says it will pay closer attention to how offensive players use their off-arm, with referees instructed to crack down on illegal push-offs while still allowing legal contact that helps a scorer create space. Monty McCutchen, the NBAs senior vice president of referee development and training, used examples involving Jaylen Brown and Paul George to draw the line between what officials should and should not call.
The broader emphasis also reaches straight-line pathway plays and freedom of movement around screens, two areas that have been central to how offenses get organized and how defenders try to fight through traffic. For Boston, it is the kind of change that could matter on both ends, especially in a league where a few borderline whistles can shape how a wing scorer attacks and how much room a teams movement offense gets to operate. The real question now is how quickly players and officials adjust once the season actually starts. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Suddenly Hold A Pick Swap Fans May Start Obsessing Over
The Clippers latest injury wave has only added to the uncertainty around a franchise already trying to navigate a delayed rebuild, and that matters in Boston because the Celtics still control a 2028 first-round pick swap with Los Angeles. With Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, Yanic Konan Neiderhauser and Jordan Miller all among the players sidelined, the long view around the Clippers has started to look even murkier, which is exactly the kind of backdrop that can turn a future asset from interesting into intriguing.
For Celtics fans, the appeal is obvious: a swap tied to a team dealing with both health issues and NBA sanctions suddenly feels less like a distant footnote and more like something worth tracking. The value of that 2028 pick will depend on how much the Clippers can stabilize over the next few seasons, but for now the picture points in one direction - and it is enough to keep Bostons front office inventory looking a little more useful than it did before this latest stretch of bad news. [Read more 🡒]