3: Obi Toppin
Like Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin will become extension eligible over the summer. However, unlike Quickley, it’s hard to see a future between Toppin and New York. He’s been granted the opportunity for a larger role with Julius Randle sidelined, but he doesn’t deserve to be delegated to the bench for yet another season in 2023-24.
Since the Knicks picked up his fourth-year option earlier in the year, Toppin is set to make $6.8 million next season. With the Knicks potentially giving new deals to Hart and Quickley during the offseason, Toppin isn’t a priority.
He could be thrown into a trade package over the summer for a star player whose identity is yet to be known. New York’s made its commitment to Randle, so unless there’s a drastic change, the front office would be smart to find a trade partner for Toppin this summer.
With both Toppin and IQ becoming extension eligible, the choice has boiled down to either or. Based on the leap that Quickley has made in year three, he’s the answer to that question. Don’t forget that Quentin Grimes will be the next extension eligible player for the Knicks, so the front office will have a couple of tough decisions to make this summer. Toppin’s possible departure will be one of them.
New York has to be cautious when signing players to new deals given the team’s young talent, and unfortunately, Obi Toppin should be on the move.