NBA Mock Draft leading up to the Knicks selecting 8th overall

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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 07: Obi Toppin #1 of the Dayton Flyers looks on during a game against the George Washington Colonials at UD Arena on March 7, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin, F, Dayton

With Collin Sexton and Darius Garland still proving whether they can be the young guards of the future for Cleveland, it’s time for the front office to focus on improving their forward position, even as the team decides how to handle the contracts of Kevin Love and Andre Drummond, who has a player option this offseason.

Obi Toppin, who went to school a few hundred miles down the road at Dayton, is the perfect forward to help charge Cleveland’s rebuild.

The 22-year-old projects as the prototypical four in the modern NBA: a forward who can score from different areas of the court and provide elite athleticism in matching up against different positions.

The late bloomer went from having zero college offers to winning the Naismith College Player of the Year while averaging 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his sophomore campaign. He finished his college career with a school-record 190 dunks to help him reach 1,096 points in just two seasons of work.

The Cavs would be getting a player who is ready to contribute right away in their lineup by selecting Toppin.

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