Rui Hachimura-Lakers trade gives harsh insight into Obi Toppin’s Knicks value

On Monday, the Lakers finally made a trade. Better yet, the Lakers actually made a good trade, receiving Wizards’ Rui Hachimura in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. Similar to the connection between the New York Knicks and the Mavericks, the Lakers and Wizards tend to like to do deals with one another.

With Kyle Kuzma’s name floating around in trade rumors (including being linked to New York as a CAA client), Washington is seemingly committed to signing him to a new contract during the offseason.

Hachimura, the No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft, is due for a rookie extension, but he and the Wizards could not agree on an extension prior to the 2022-23 season. Instead, he was shipped off for an expiring contract in Nunn and a few second-round picks, which should be concerning to New York’s front office for one big reason.

What does the Rui Hachimura Lakers-Wizards trade mean for the Knicks and Obi Toppin?

Ben Ritholz, a contributor for Knicks Film School and The Strickland, brought up a great point shortly after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers-Wizards trade had been finalized. What does Hachimura’s trade value mean for Obi Toppin?

Toppin was the No. 8 pick the year after Hachimura was drafted and considering that Washington traded him for second-round draft compensation, that isn’t good news for what New York could possibly get in a Toppin trade. With Julius Randle having an All-Star level season, Toppin’s name has surfaced in trade rumors. If he is dealt before the Feb. 9 deadline, what would the Knicks be able to get in return?

Spoiler alert: It isn’t looking good.

With New York in pursuit of a star, draft compensation seems to be one of the front office’s priorities in trade talks. The Knicks were reportedly shopping Immanuel Quickley in exchange for a first-round pick a few weeks ago, but those talks have since stalled out. It should go without saying that after the Hachimura trade, New York won’t be able to get a first-round pick if the front office does decide to trade Toppin.

And as Ritholz noted, Toppin’s value is going to continue to go down as his rookie deal runs out. Will that lead to the Knicks deciding to move on from him sometime in the next few weeks before his value continues to take a dip? Given the rumors, that should be something that fans have already begun to prepare for.

As we’ve said before, it’d be bittersweet to see Obi Toppin traded, especially because he was a lottery pick three years ago. But as the saying goes, the NBA is a business, and it might be time for New York’s front office to proceed with a tough, but necessary business decision.

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