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Knicks News: Obi Toppin draft trade idea, Zach LaVine rumors start back up

By Jordanna Clark

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 26: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks stands on the court during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 26: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks stands on the court during Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 26, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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As the 2023 NBA Draft creeps closer, the New York Knicks could be considering a trade that would get the organization a draft pick. After trading a first-round pick to Portland for Josh Hart and Dallas tanking to keep the protected pick that they sent to New York as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the Knicks are without a draft pick this year.

Obi Toppin is a player that’s popped up in a couple of trade ideas that would net the Knicks a late first-round selection. The 25-year-old will become extension eligible this summer but he doesn’t seem to have much of a future in New York, meaning that the front office should consider dealing him to a new team as he’s set to be a restricted free agent next offseason.

The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie (subscription required) speculated whether or not the Clippers would be willing to trade the No. 30 pick to the Knicks in a package centered around Toppin. Vecenie didn’t propose a trade scenario that would send Toppin to Los Angeles but highlighted the team’s need for a power forward. Toppin’s a player that the Clippers should turn their attention to and if LA is interested in him, New York could sneak into the draft with the final pick in the first round.

On the topic of trades, the idea of a Zach LaVine-Knicks deal has reemerged. There was a fear that New York was close to trading for LaVine ahead of the February deadline, but that rumor was debunked. Similar to the Knicks, the Bulls don’t have a draft pick this year. Following a season in which Chicago finished tenth in the East, the front office could decide to move on from LaVine and/or DeMar DeRozan.

More Knicks news

  • Josh Hart sat down in an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks and revealed whether or not he’ll opt out of his player option for next season.
  • The idea of New York trading for the 2023 NBA MVP sounds a lot better than the Knicks actually trading for Joel Embiid.
  • According to NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), the Mavericks are interested in bringing in former Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy as an assistant. Van Gundy last coached in 2007.

NBA news

  • Chris Haynes dropped a bombshell on Wednesday when he reported that the Suns told Chris Paul that the organization plans to waive him, meaning he’ll be a free agent this summer.
  • James Harden is reportedly “torn” between staying with the Sixers or reuniting with the Rockets. He has a $35.6 million player option for 2023-24 that he’s expected to opt out of to become an unrestricted free agent.
  • Former All-Star center Dwight Howard recently said that he’d “love to help the Sacramento Kings contend for a title.” The 37-year-old last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season and has since been playing in Taiwan.
  • Tyler Herro, who broke his hand in Miami’s first-round series against Milwaukee, missed Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. His status for Game 4 on Friday is still unknown.
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