What does Obi Toppin not being traded mean for his Knicks future?
Although several teams expressed interest in Obi Toppin, the New York Knicks held onto the 24-year-old forward past the trade deadline on Thursday. Many fans had come to terms with the fact that he could be traded, but he’ll remain in New York at least through the end of the season.
The Knicks picked up Toppin’s fourth-year option earlier this season and he’ll be eligible to sign an extension this summer. Unless Julius Randle takes a huge dip in production, New York likely won’t be the team that gives Toppin a new contract.
It would’ve been bittersweet to see Toppin traded on Thursday, but at the same time, it might’ve been what’s best for him. He’s in his third year in the league and has played behind Randle since being drafted No. 8 overall in 2020. Randle’s four-year, $117 million extension that he signed after his first All-Star season kicked in this year, and based on the way that he’s been playing, it’d be hard to see the front office moving on from him anytime soon.
So, what does that mean for Toppin?
Obi Toppin remains with New York Knicks past the 2023 trade deadline
With the Knicks still in search of the next star to pursue (which thankfully didn’t end up being Zach LaVine), Obi Toppin could be included in a deal if one materializes over the summer. Kevin Durant’s name was crossed off that list after the Nets traded him to the Suns, and it would’ve been hard to imagine Brooklyn trading him across the river anyways.
Fans criticized Leon Rose and the front office for not making a deal on Thursday. The biggest name that was on the market outside of Kyrie Irving and KD was OG Anunoby, who doesn’t qualify as a star. Toronto put a high price tag on him and according to Masai Ujiri, the reason the Raptors didn’t trade him was because the “blockbuster” deal they wanted wasn’t there. It’s smart that New York didn’t trade for Anunoby after being linked to him for weeks given what Toronto wanted in return.
The Knicks still have all of their assets after the trade deadline, except the 2023 lottery-protected first-round pick that they sent to the Trail Blazers for Hart. According to SNY’s Ian Begley, New York had a ‘significant’ asking price for Toppin. If teams weren’t willing to meet that, why would the Knicks trade him when they could wait until over the summer when they could either include Toppin in a trade for a star or possibly get a first-round pick for him?
None of this is to say that Toppin will be traded during the offseason, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he were traded, either. At the end of the day, it would likely be a move that would benefit him.
As Begley noted on Thursday, the forward’s done everything that’s been asked of him in his role. He hasn’t been rewarded for his efforts, so it could be time to move on from him unless a major change happens.
Knicks fans, enjoy Obi Toppin while you still can. You never know what the future may hold.
