OG Anunoby was on the receiving end of a cryptic message from Mitchell Robinson, who recently left the New York Knicks to join the Boston Celtics.
What happened?
On the day of his exit, Robinson posted an emotional goodbye to New York on Instagram, to which Anunoby replied with a sad-face emoji.
Robinson responded with a message that has fueled speculation among Knicks fans, stating "I tried brother. I didn’t want this to happen. Hopefully, the truth comes out at some point."
Why it matters for OG Anunoby
The exchange between Robinson and Anunoby suggests that the decision to leave the Knicks may have involved more than just accepting a larger contract elsewhere.
Robinson's remark hinted at factors behind the scenes that may have played a role in ending his time in New York.
What comes next?
The Knicks now face the challenge of replacing Robinson, who leaves as the longest-tenured player from their championship roster.
League insiders have linked veteran center Kevon Looney as a potential replacement, as the Knicks look to rebuild their center depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns.
And with Robinson's departure, the Knicks will have to navigate the league's increasingly restrictive collective bargaining agreement to keep their championship core intact.
So the search for reinforcements in the frontcourt begins, with the Knicks looking to preserve financial flexibility.
The financial reality surrounding Robinson's exit is that the Knicks possessed his Bird rights, but matching the Celtics' three-year, $47.4 million offer would have pushed them above the NBA's punitive second salary apron.
This organizational mandate ultimately made it difficult for the defending champions to compete with the Celtics' offer, despite Robinson's long-standing ties to the franchise.
But for now, Robinson's heartfelt exchange with Anunoby underscores the close bonds forged during the Knicks' championship run.