The Knicks already had to swallow the sight of Mitchell Robinson leaving for the Boston Celtics when free agency opened, and now there’s another Boston-New York twist that has to sting a little more. Through two Summer League games, rookie Dillon Mitchell is starting to look like the kind of player the Celtics keep finding while the Knicks are left wondering how it slipped away.
Mitchell, the No. 40 pick, is represented by Sam Rose - the son of Knicks President Leon Rose, and agent of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. The St.
John’s product backed up the intrigue on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, six steals, and two blocks. For a Knicks fan base already bracing for Robinson in Boston, it’s not hard to see why Mitchell’s early run would raise eyebrows.
That’s the nature of Summer League, though. These games are built for young players to show pieces of their game that might take time to surface at the NBA level, and Mitchell has done exactly that across Boston’s first two outings. He opened in Las Vegas with a rough one against the Toronto Raptors - four points, two turnovers, and no assists - but he came right back with a much fuller performance in game two.
The defense never really left, and once the offense caught up, the whole package showed up. Mitchell grabbed eight rebounds, seven of them on the offensive glass, and hit 10 of his 20 shots.
He also knocked down two of five from 3-point range, a small but meaningful step for a player who made just 11 of 57 attempts from deep at the NCAA level. After the win over Charlotte, Mitchell said his early success was tied to work he’s already been doing with Boston’s coaching staff.
That’s where the Celtics can be dangerous. They have the staff and the roster around them to cover for flaws, whether it’s Robinson’s free throw shooting or Mitchell’s perimeter inconsistency. The Knicks, meanwhile, can only sit back and watch whatever happens next in green - at least until a possible meeting in the regular season or the playoffs.
There was one silver lining for New York on a rough Summer League night. Jack Kayil and Tyler Nickel have both stood out in their minutes so far, and they were among the few positives in the Knicks’ 70-49 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Mitchell’s emergence wouldn’t change that, but it does add another layer to a summer that already feels like Boston has gotten the better end of a couple of New York misses.
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Knicks Title May Have Just Changed The NBAs Biggest Money Fight
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That decision also lands in the middle of a broader fight over how much the NBAs current system should squeeze teams and players alike. NBPA executive director David Kelly has been openly critical of the second apron and the way it can put the financial burden on players when clubs want to keep a contender together, a debate that has only grown louder as more teams weigh flexibility against spending. [Read more 🡒]