If a Knicks fan really thinks Mitchell Robinson is just an injury-prone center who can’t shoot free throws, the Boston Celtics are about to provide a quick education.
That was the setup in James L. Edwards III’s mailbag for The Athletic, where a reader asked, “Why is losing Robinson a big deal?
He didn’t play much and cannot shoot free throws. He’s injury-prone and cannot make a shot further than a layup.”
It’s a fair question on the surface, but it misses the point of what Robinson actually brings. Boston didn’t sign him expecting jumpers, touch passes or a prettier stat line at the stripe. The Celtics are betting on the stuff that changes possessions.
Robinson’s biggest value is on the glass. He remains one of the league’s best offensive rebounders, pulling down 4.2 per game this past season.
Among players who appeared in at least 60 games, only Donovan Clingan, at 4.5, was better. That kind of work matters, especially for a Knicks offense that finished fourth in the league in the 2025-26 regular season and seventh in offensive rebounding rate at 32.8%.
Those extra chances were part of the engine. Robinson grabbed 20.1% of New York’s misses when he was on the court in the regular season, then 17.9% in the playoffs. That’s the kind of hidden production that doesn’t always jump off the page, but it changes the shape of an offense.
Andre Drummond gave Philadelphia decent work in that area with 3.2 offensive rebounds per game this past season, but Robinson is in another class.
The flaws are real, too. Robinson is coming off his worst free-throw shooting season, hitting just 40.8% while averaging 1.7 attempts per game.
His career best is 68.4% in 2024-25, when he played only 17 games. He’s not a midrange shooter and he’s not stretching to three-point range either.
That’s never been the appeal.
What makes him useful is everything else. He’s a lob threat, and he’s a strong rim protector as well, posting a career-high 2.4 blocks per game this past season.
The bigger concern, naturally, is staying healthy. Robinson played 60 games this past season, but he was limited to 19.6 minutes per game as New York managed his workload carefully for the playoffs. That’s the part Boston will have to monitor, whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Still, the idea that he’s somehow replaceable doesn’t hold up. Even with the injury history and the ugly free throws, Robinson brings enough to make a real difference. Losing him was a big deal for the Knicks, and getting him was a big deal for the Celtics.
In Other News...
Derrick White Suddenly Feels Less Safe In Bostons Core
Derrick White has long looked like one of the safer pieces in Bostons core, the kind of player who fits almost anywhere because of his defense, decision-making and steady all-around game. Sports Illustrateds John Karalis recently underscored that point while also noting the tension around the Celtics cap situation, where even dependable contributors can become complicated fast when the financial picture tightens.
Whites recent shooting has added another layer to the conversation, since a swing in performance can change how a team views a player whose value is built on balance rather than volume scoring. None of that means Boston is preparing to move him, but it does make his roster security feel a little less automatic than it once did, especially with the Celtics already navigating a squeezed financial outlook. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Trade Return Rides On One Complicated Pick Twist
The Celtics return for Jaylen Brown is straightforward on the surface: Paul George, two first-rounders and two second-round picks from Philadelphia. But buried in the package is the kind of draft-night accounting that can shape a franchise years down the line, including an unprotected 2031 pick from the 76ers and a protected 2028 first from the Clippers that comes wrapped in swap rights and layered protections involving Boston and San Antonio.
For the Celtics, the second-round pieces add a little more value to the haul, too. They come in 2028 and 2030 and are structured as the most favorable of several teams selections, which is the sort of detail that can look minor now and matter later when front offices are hunting for flexibility. The headline of the deal is the star-for-star swap, but the real long-term intrigue sits in how those picks eventually shake out. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Got A New Eastern Conference Threat To Worry About
The Eastern Conference picture may be about to get a lot more complicated for Boston. With the NBA punishing the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard trade, the path has opened for Leonard to return to the Toronto Raptors, and ESPNs Shams Charania reports the deal is expected to be finalized in the next few days. For a Celtics team already measuring itself against the conferences best, the timing matters.
Toronto with Leonard back in the fold is a very different problem than Toronto without him. Even with the obvious questions about his health and durability, his arrival would be viewed as a major upgrade and would put another proven playoff force back in Bostons lane. The Celtics do not need more contenders making the road harder, but this one has the kind of star power that can change the balance in the East quickly. [Read more 🡒]