Mitchell Robinson Tells OG Anunoby 'Hopefully the Truth Comes Out' After Leaving Knicks for Celtics

After leaving the NBA champion New York Knicks to sign with the Boston Celtics, veteran center Mitchell Robinson made an interesting declaration.

In a response to his now-former teammate OG Anunoby's sad face emoji, Robinson said, "I tried brother I didn't want this to happen hopefully the truth comes out at some point."

On Wednesday, Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics that includes a player option in the third season. The move ends his time as the longest-tenured member of the Knicks' roster and makes him the enemy after joining a division rival. Many Knicks fans took to social media to mourn Robinson's departure, including actor Ben Stiller.

Robinson's response to Anunoby indicates that he didn't want to leave New York, but he couldn't turn down a lucrative offer after establishing himself as a reliable rebounder and rim protector. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype previously reported that the 28-year-old was "considered unlikely to return to New York if remaining below the second apron remains a mandate," as team owner James Dolan had declared.

"There are certain things in the NBA that you'd have to be suicidal to do. One of them is the second apron," Dolan said during a radio appearance on WFAN. "Cannot go into the second apron. That's up to Leon (Rose). I'm just telling him how big of a check I can write. I'll write as big of a check as possible, but I can't write a check that goes into the second apron."

That mindset likely cost the Knicks one of their most beloved players, and they will have to search for a replacement to maintain their frontcourt depth heading into next season.