What happened: New York, working to stay beneath the second apron, has lost center Mitchell Robinson to the Boston Celtics in free agency. The move leaves the Knicks suddenly thin in the middle heading into the 2026-27 season.

Why it matters: Boston adding Robinson reshapes the read on Jaylen Brown's future in green, with the reinforced frontcourt read by some as a sign the Celtics intend to keep him rather than move him. For the Knicks, the apron discipline carries a real cost: interior depth and rim protection now stand as an offseason need.

What to watch: Watch how New York backfills its center rotation after Robinson's exit, and whether Boston's frontcourt commitment quiets the trade speculation around Brown.