Daily Knicks
Fansided

NY Knicks: Projecting the roster with Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet

By Jeffrey Bellone

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 9
Next
Knicks
Knicks target and New York native Obi Toppin #1 of the Dayton Flyers reacts after a dunk in the second half of a game against the George Washington Colonials at UD Arena on March 7, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton defeated George Washington 76-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Knicks Starting Power Forward: Obi Toppin

If the Knicks trade Julius Randle, which is reportedly their top priority this offseason, while also letting Bobby Portis go as a free agent and waiving Taj Gibson, they suddenly will have a hole at the power forward position, something you couldn’t have said last season.

How the Knicks approach the upcoming draft could dictate who plays upfront next to Mitchell Robinson. With Mitch’s limited shooting range, he needs a forward next to him who can stretch the floor and clear the lane for the rest of the offense to attack the rim.

New York would have the Room Mid-Level exception available to add a veteran option at power forward, but let’s have some fun and assume they use their lottery pick on a forward and he makes it into the starting lineup.

With this year’s draft board all over the place – depending on which mock you read, the same player can be projected to be selected 3rd overall or 9th overall – if Dayton’s Obi Toppin falls to the Knicks, he would be a nice complement to Robinson.

The 6-foot-9 forward can score in a variety of ways: in the post, transition, and in spot-up opportunities. While his finishing game is more developed than his perimeter shot, there are good signs that he can become a reliable shooter. He shot 53.8% in spot-ups last year, but on only 39 attempts. Given more opportunities to polish his shot, he should be able to fine-tune that part of his game, while still offering plenty of value as a scoring big with strong defensive awareness.

Home/Knicks News