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Mitchell Robinson was with the Knicks. He's now going to be your teammate and you'll be rotating with him at center. He's someone you enjoyed playing against, someone who pushed you, or someone who… Neemias Queta: "What I appreciate is not having to box out against him because it was very difficult. He's a very strong, very agile player, capable of going in and winning almost every offensive rebound. Having a player of this level, who defends so well and can cause so much trouble on the offensive boards, will be very good because we are quite similar basketball players and we can bring many similar things to the team, which is essential."
One of the players Cenac is most excited to learn from is also a familiar name back home: NBA champion and Chalmette alum Mitchell Robinson, now a teammate in Boston. Cenac said the shared South Louisiana connection is something he’s looking forward to building on once the season begins. “I mean, that’s pretty cool that we both came from South Louisiana,” Cenac said. “That’s something that we’re definitely going to talk about a little bit more… we were definitely going to have more conversations when the season comes around.”
Ian Begley: The Moussa Cisse offer sheet from Knicks starts at veterans minimum of $2.5M, per league source. If Mavs don’t match offer sheet by Monday afternoon, Knicks would land young center to bolster depth after Mitchell Robinson & Ariel Hukporti signed elsewhere. If Mavs don’t match, Knicks would lose the ability to sign their draft picks to contracts via the second round minimum while also staying under 2nd apron. So Tyler Nickel and Jack Kayil would need to agree to two-way deals to play with Knicks in ‘26-‘27.
For the reigning champs, standing still will mean falling behind. They’ve already lost center Mitch Robinson; but they can’t afford to lose their edge as well. Between their truncated offseason, and being toasted and feted and told how great they are, that can be a challenge in its own right. “Absolutely,” Brunson said. “You definitely lose a lot of time — obviously for the right reason: we got it done — to be able to go through the summer and realize, all right, there’s a lot on your plate now. “How are you going to remain hungry? How are you going to remain focused? How are you going to push the envelope for you to be better the next time? Yeah. So, those are all questions that I believe I have the answers for. I feel like I know what I’m doing to push myself. But only time will tell.”
As Derrick White and Jordan Walsh went through a workout on one of the Cox Pavilion courts Saturday morning, head coach Joe Mazzulla detailed the respect he has for Brown, what Boston will miss most about him and the need to create a new path forward without him. After 10 highly successful seasons with Brown, Boston will take on a different look with Paul George, Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley now on the roster. “There needs to be a grieving process for losing not just a player in Jaylen, but a person in Jaylen,” Mazzulla said in an interview with The Athletic. “There needs to be a grieving process that this guy, what he has done on the court and what he’s done in the community and what he’s done for the city of Boston, there should be a grieving process. But the … gray area is throughout that loss, you’re also gaining.”
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So, when it came time to offer Robinson a contract last week, it was a full-circle moment. In that free agency call, the two discussed Mazzulla’s Hack-a-Mitch approach. “I told him [the fouling] was a compliment,” Mazzulla said. “He was so effective when he’s on the floor. We had to do what we could to take him off the floor. So, now we have to be able to use his effectiveness to make us better. And I think it gives us a ton of depth at the center spot where two guys have done so many great things for us, Neemi and Luka [Garza]. And now we have another guy that can help us.”
Legion Hoops: Mitchell Robinson to a Celtics fan online: Fan: "He better be great otherwise he’ll be remembered for missing 2 free throws against us.” Mitch: "That's cool still sent that ass home remember that"
Devine Kaysuane, 34, an artist and longtime Knicks fan from East Harlem, watched Mitchell Robinson’s departure with some melancholy. But he felt some satisfaction, too, that he was able to have painted a mural on 30th Street in Manhattan depicting Mr. Robinson dunking over an opponent in one of the more electrifying moments of the team’s championship run. “This is how I can keep that moment alive,” said Mr. Kaysuane, who also painted a mural of Mr. Brunson. “We’re documenting history, for real.”
New Boston Celtics big man Mitchell Robinson addressed the hand injury that put his status for the start of the New York Knicks' NBA Finals appearance in doubt, saying he was hurt after reacting to a family member being in a car crash. In a Facebook post Sunday morning, Robinson outlined a difficult season for him due to "personal issues, relationship problems, and internal struggles, which affected my performance on the basketball court." He said that culminated in hearing that his youngest brother had been in a car crash that included potentially severe or life-threatening injuries. "Being 910 miles away, I felt helpless. In a moment of frustration, I banged my hand on my truck," Robinson wrote. "... Before judging someone, it is essential to understand their circumstances, which may not be publicly known. Life is unpredictable, and it is how we respond to challenges that truly matters."
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"After consulting with doctors, I was able to gain the confidence in myself to go in and get the job done and WE DID 2026 NBA CHAMPS," he wrote. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Wednesday that Robinson had agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Celtics. Deals can't be made official until Monday. "I battled with so much throughout this season even made a huge sacrifice to not see my daughter as much this season because I needed to focus and lock in so she can have a better future than I did," Robinson said in concluding his post.
New York Basketball: Andre Drummond on joining Knicks: "I think this what they need rn. Getting rid of Mitchell Robinson huge loss…I bring in a similar talent & energy…but I'm a vet, been around long time, know what it takes to win. Excited to be in a new role…going back to a place I'm familiar with Mika Ortiz "What does it take to win? AD "…Sacrifice…Focus on greater good…which is win a championship––that's what I'm here for MO "What motivates you? AD "…Tattooed it on my hand…’Don't Quit’…I don't give up" x.com/IamMikaOrtiz/s
Ian Begley: Knicks have secured agreement with free agent Andre Drummond, source confirms. Drummond, former Mount Vernon star, will be backup 5 for Karl-Anthony Towns after Mitchell Robinson exit. Drummond has agreed to one-year deal. First reported by @MikeAScotto. If he becomes free agent, Jonas Valunciunas is on NYK radar as 3rd center, per sources
While Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti left New York in free agency, the door remains open for Jordan Clarkson to return, according to league sources, after averaging 8.6 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the field in 72 games for the Knicks this past season.
