The New York Knicks offseason is underway and it seems like this could be an exciting one for the Knicks. Not only are they coming off of their first second-round playoff appearance since 2013, but how they lost should force Leon Rose to make some moves to improve the team.
One of the players that seems more likely to get traded than others is forward Obi Toppin. Since being drafted, the talents Toppin has have been very apparent, however, he has not been used properly on offense.
That, combined with his lack of defense, simply makes him a bad fit for what the Knicks are trying to put out on the floor every night. Fans would like to see Toppin stick around, but the odds of this happening aren’t in his favor.
3 trades centered around Obi Toppin the Knicks should consider
Trade #3: Sending Obi Toppin off for a veteran sharpshooter
This is a trade we’ve suggested several times in the past and it makes sense for both sides. Not only are the Knicks getting some much-needed three-point shooting, but the other team involved is getting an exciting power forward to pair with their star guard.
The Pacers are in an incredibly weird spot right now. While they should be in a position to rebuild, they still have several veterans that should be nowhere near that sort of team. Who knows if their actual intentions are to tear down and start over or not. However, if they do rebuild, the Knicks should jump on the opportunity to get a player like Buddy Hield.
Hield would fit perfectly with the Knicks while providing some all-time three-point shooting. Last season, the Knicks ranked 19th in three-point percentage and when it came time for the playoffs they became even worse in that aspect. Adding a player who just shot 42.5% from three on 8.5 attempts is exactly how to improve this stat.
For the Pacers, they can come closer to entering a rebuilding stage by not only acquiring a perfect fitting power forward next to Tyrese Haliburton, but they are also gaining a contract they can shed at the end of the year along with a first-round pick.
The price may not be cheap, but this honestly may be lowballing the Pacers a bit. However, considering that Hield has one year left on his deal, this sort of value should suffice for his services.
Trade #2: Paying the price for an All-NBA defender
This trade is a little more tricky, as this move entirely depends on whether or not the team involved wishes to enter the rebuilding phase or not. However, if they do, the Knicks should not hesitate to acquire this player.
The price may turn some fans off, however, the skill set Alex Caruso would bring to the Knicks could help elevate the team to a whole different level. Not only is Caruso one of the best defenders in the league, but his offense is more than serviceable.
In 2022-23, Caruso averaged 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 45.5% from the field and 36.4% from three on 2.3 attempts. In addition to this, Caruso averaged 2.2 steals per game and as mentioned before, was one of the league’s best defenders.
Adding Caruso to a defensive core that already features Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, and Josh Hart would elevate the Knicks’ defense by a ridiculous amount. Most importantly, Caruso is an incredibly versatile player, being able to man the one-through-three with relative ease.
Not only are the Bulls getting some interesting pieces to boost their potential rebuild attempt, but are also getting two first-round picks. The asking price for Caruso is more than you’d expect, but it’s one the Knicks may want to consider paying.
Trade #1: Bringing in an intriguing veteran to help the defense
After the playoffs, it became clear that the Clippers wished to move on from Robert Covington. While this doesn’t make much sense, fans should love the possibility of adding someone like Covington to the Knicks’ bench unit.
This trade is a little wonky given the cap space of both teams. However, it’s one that benefits both sides pretty well. Not only are the Knicks getting a solid wing for their second unit, but they are also trading back into the first round of the NBA Draft like some fans have speculated could happen.
For the Clippers, they are getting a player that could very well start given their lack of genuine depth at power forward as well as an intriguing guard for their defensive scheme. Toppin could finally be used as a P&R player/off-ball slasher with the Clippers and have a real chance to succeed.
Covington could come in and play multiple positions for the Knicks while also providing some great defense and floor spacing. These are two things Toppin has yet to really give the Knicks thus far so it would be a clear upgrade.
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