NY Knicks: Three levels of trades involving Obi Toppin

NY Knicks trade #1 – Obi Toppin to Charlotte

With all this talk of Terry Rozier being a target of the Knicks, it feels like the player that makes more sense in the situation is Devonte’ Graham.

Graham spent the early portion of the year struggling but has since picked up his level of play and has resorted back to the marksman from deep of old.

Graham is in the final year of his rookie contract and would surely need to be paid next season, but shouldn’t be demanding too much on an annual basis.

For what the Knicks need from him, somewhere between $10-14 million per year on a 3-year contract should do the trick.

Graham would be joining his 2018 LOADED 2nd round classmate in Mitchell Robinson who was actually picked just 2 spots after Graham.

The Knicks make this move because they lack shooting and playmaking. Finding a replacement for the limited minutes Obi is playing is a lot easier than finding someone with the shooting touch that Graham possesses.

While not exactly known for his playmaking ability, Graham quietly averaged 7.5 assists per game last season, and even this year with rookie phenom, LaMelo Ball running the point, Graham is still averaging almost 6 assists per game.

He’d come in and be the best facilitating guard on the team immediately.

As far as the Hornets, they’re going to be in ‘cap-space hell’ pretty soon, so flipping a guy they’re gonna have to pay a nice contract to keep when they’re stacked at the guard position doesn’t make a lot of sense.

They also lack depth at the 4 and the 5 positions, so Obi makes a lot of sense there.

Obi is already a Jordan brand athlete, might as well go play for the guy.