Boston Celtics sign Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley: Updated 2026 roster, depth chart, and starting lineup

Both signings are modest in cost relative to the production and leadership they bring. With free agency still early, Boston has positioned itself well to build around its core of Tatum, Brown and White while adding the specific pieces needed to compete at a high level in the East.

Aachal Maniyar
Published2 Jul 2026, 01:09 AM IST
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena.(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The Boston Celtics have added frontcourt muscle and backcourt experience during the opening hours of NBA free agency. On July 1, center Mitchell Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million contract with a player option in the final season. Veteran guard Mike Conley also joined on a one-year deal, becoming the 14th player in league history to reach 20 NBA seasons.

These moves give Boston a proven rim protector coming off a title with the New York Knicks and a steady, respected leader at the point guard spot.

Mitchell Robinson brings championship pedigree and interior defense

Mitchell Robinson spent eight seasons with the New York Knicks and played a key role in their first championship in 53 years. Across his time in New York, he averaged 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in roughly 24 minutes per game. Last season, he appeared in 60 regular-season games, his highest total since 2022-23, and ranked second in the NBA with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game.

In the playoffs, he averaged 4.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes while recovering from a broken right pinkie finger. His signing directly addresses Boston’s need for a physical presence in the paint and gives the team another option against Eastern Conference rivals, especially the Knicks.

Mike Conley reaches 20-season milestone

Mike Conley, 38, signed a one-year contract after sifting through several offers. He becomes only the 14th player ever to play 20 NBA seasons and remains one of four active players from the 2007 draft class alongside Kevin Durant, Al Horford, and Jeff Green.

Also Read | Kevin Durant agrees to two-year, $90M extension with Houston Rockets

Production dipped last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged career lows of 4.5 points and 18.4 minutes in 54 games. Minnesota traded him at the deadline to Chicago, which later packaged him to Charlotte. The Hornets waived him, allowing Conley to return to Minnesota for the rest of the regular season.

He began the playoffs out of the rotation but started five games after injuries hit teammates. One highlight was a 12-point, six-assist performance in a Game 1 road win over San Antonio.

Updated Boston Celtics roster by position

Here is the current depth chart after the two signings -

Point Guard: Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mike Conley, Dalano Banton

Shooting Guard: Jaylen Brown, Baylor Scheierman

Small Forward: Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr.

Power Forward: Jayson Tatum, Jordan Walsh, Chris Cenac Jr.

Center: Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Luka Garza

Projected starting lineup

Also Read | Norman Powell signs two-year, $45 million deal with Chicago Bulls

Assuming Jaylen Brown remains with the team, the most likely opening-night starting five is -

Point Guard: Derrick White

Shooting Guard: Jaylen Brown

Small Forward: Sam Hauser

Power Forward: Jayson Tatum

Center: Mitchell Robinson

White anchors the defense and playmaking, Brown and Tatum supply the scoring punch, Hauser spaces the floor, and Robinson protects the rim and crashes the glass. Neemias Queta and Payton Pritchard figure to lead the second unit, with Conley providing reliable minutes and mentorship when needed.

About the Author

Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.

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