What happened: Boston exercised a team option that kept it below the first apron, creating enough financial flexibility to sign center Mitchell Robinson. The move locked in salary certainty while preserving the room needed to add to the frontcourt this offseason.

Why it matters: Operating below the first apron matters because apron thresholds restrict how a team can use exceptions, aggregate salaries, and build its roster. By staying under that line, Boston kept the mechanisms it needed to complete the Robinson addition rather than being hard-capped out of it. The center gives the Celtics rim protection and interior rebounding heading into the 2026-27 season.

What to watch: Watch how Boston rounds out the rest of its frontcourt rotation and whether it stays under the apron as the offseason continues.