What trading Obi Toppin in a Donovan Mitchell deal would mean for the Knicks

As the Donovan Mitchell saga continues, sources have revealed what the New York Knicks recently offered the Utah Jazz for their All-Star guard. It seems the package was centered around the Knicks’ promising neophyte Obi Toppin and was supplemented by Evan Fournier, draft compensation, and additional salary.

This trade scenario is not one that raises much surprise, as it was assumed this would be the type of package that it would take to land Mitchell this offseason.

What may surprise fans, though, is the fact that the deal was centered around Toppin and not Quentin Grimes or Immanuel Quickley, who have also been rumored trade targets for the Jazz.

Toppin has been an underwhelming NBA presence in his first two seasons, falling victim to an understudy role as Julius Randle became the face of the franchise. He only averages 6.7 career points per game, accompanied by 3.0 rebounds in his short tenure.

Following a late-season surge of play for Toppin, many believed it would be Randle finding greener pastures this summer, and Toppin taking the reins as New York’s premier power forward.

The Knicks’ inclusion of Toppin, and not Randle or Grimes, in this deal reveals several conversations about the direction of the franchise and their vague analysis of young talent up to this point.