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

Valuing what player to send to Utah

A player whose play was pleasantly surprising last year was the 2021 No. 25 overall pick, Quentin Grimes. He impressed with his versatility on the court, presenting a dagger three-point ability and fitting in well in New York’s defensive scheme.

He quickly gained attention as a real piece for the team, unlike Quickley or Toppin, who typically only gained praise for their theatrics. Grimes was consistent in his role.

An injury ended Grimes’ season prematurely, though, and many did not get to see him start in the rotation at the end of the year, leaving much to be desired for the young player. In his absence, both Toppin and Quickley ended the seasons in spectacular fashion, turning their theatrics into an every night show and finally producing real numbers from it.

That led to there being no clear leader for the youth movement outside of RJ Barrett, so when trades became the headline of the summer, a fierce debate over who would be the martyr sent to Utah began to rise.

Why the Knicks trading Obi Toppin would be significant

The major thing that separates Toppin from Grimes, Quickley, and the others is that Toppin was a lottery pick. With this label comes some immediate and lofty expectations for a player. Unlike later picks, which are less risky, it is safe to assume that front offices put significant time and effort into who they select in the top ten, as these players are typically regarded to have franchise-altering implications.

Toppin was the first lottery selection for Leon Rose after taking over as president of the Knicks, immediately becoming a defining piece of his tenure that night. Tasked with a major talent rebuild, Toppin would be the first sign of this front office’s ability to gauge that talent.

It has not been great, but Toppin remains praised for his promise and potential, as many believe he could take a big leap next season with increased minutes. It has even been rumored that Tom Thibodeau is excited to see him play in a greater role next season.

If New York truly did offer Toppin, it means the team would be parting ways with their rebuild poster boy. The team feeling confident parting with their former debut lottery pick this early in his career could mean a couple of potential things from the perspective of Leon Rose and the franchise.