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3 teams that could crush Knicks fans by trading for Obi Toppin

By Jordanna Clark

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks in action against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2022 in New York City 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. Dallas Mavericks defeated the New York Knicks 121-100. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks in action against the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2022 in New York City 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. Dallas Mavericks defeated the New York Knicks 121-100. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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The first half of the 2022-23 season has come to a close, meaning that soon enough, the Feb. 9 trade deadline will be here. The New York Knicks have been labeled as one of the more active trade teams in the league, which should come as no surprise.

Tom Thibodeau cut the team’s rotation down to nine, but a few injuries have opened up playing time for those who were initially left out of the rotation. Obi Toppin suffered a lower leg fracture in the win over the Hawks on Dec. 7, and for the first time since then, he was made available in Wednesday’s win over the Spurs. He didn’t play though, as he was listed as “situational” by Thibodeau.

While Toppin was out, Heavy’s Sean Deveney reported that according to an anonymous NBA executive, the Knicks engaged in talks with the Pacers in a trade that would send Toppin to Indiana. Whether that’s true or not, the 24-year-old will become extension eligible over the summer and has been stuck playing behind Julius Randle since he was drafted in 2020. It would sting to see Toppin leave, but the move would be understandable.

If this indeed is Obi Toppin’s final month as a Knick, let’s take a deeper look at three teams that he could be sent to ahead of the deadline.

3 teams that could trade for Knicks’ Obi Toppin ahead of Feb. 9 deadline

3: Washington Wizards

Unlike the Pacers, the Wizards are a team that could receive Obi Toppin in a trade package if Kyle Kuzma were to be sent to New York. This isn’t to say that the Knicks should trade for Kuzma but with the reports that have been floating around and the fact that he is represented by CAA, he’s a player to watch ahead of the deadline.

Washington’s two starting big men are Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford. The former is averaging 22.2 points in 35 games (close to his career-high 22.7 points in 48 games for New York in 2017-18), but as Knicks fans know all too well, Porzingis’ career has been plagued by injuries, so Toppin would give Washington additional depth. Porzingis also has a $36 million player option for 2023-24, so that’s of course something that the Wizards are well aware of.

Toppin was drafted a couple of years after Porzingis left New York, so a Toppin-Porzingis frontcourt would be interesting to see in action.

Kuzma’s having a career year, but at this point, it seems as if he’s all but gone. He has a $13 million player option next season and signs are pointing toward him entering free agency, so it’d be in Washington’s best interest to part with him ahead of the deadline. Toppin wouldn’t come in and give the Wizards the same production that Kuzma has this season, but the potential is there.

Regardless of how Knicks fans feel about the possibility of Kuzma in NYC, the Wizards are certainly a possible landing spot for Toppin.

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