NEW YORK CITY (VINnews) – The New York Knicks lost two backup centers to divisional rivals as Mitchell Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Boston Celtics and third-string center Ariel Hukporti signed a one-year, $3.4 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN.
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Robinson, the longest-tenured player on the Knicks’ 2026 NBA championship roster, departs New York for the Celtics. Hukporti also leaves the defending champions, leaving Karl-Anthony Towns as the lone frontcourt player on the roster behind the All-Star center who starred under coach Mike Brown during last season’s title run.
The moves come as the Knicks operate under owner James Dolan’s mandate to stay below the $222 million second apron. The team could not afford to re-sign Robinson to a raise while filling out a roster to support its $192 million starting lineup.
Instead, the Knicks re-signed guard Landry Shamet to a four-year, $24 million contract and added free agents Jose Alvarado and Mohamed Diawara.
Robinson will earn an average of $15.8 million annually over the three-year deal with Boston. He previously averaged $15 million per year on his four-year, $60 million contract with the Knicks.
The Knicks open the new season looking to defend their championship amid a significantly reshaped supporting cast.