In a little over 48 hours, the 2023 NBA Draft will be underway. Unless the New York Knicks trade into the draft, the organization will be without a pick. If the Knicks do decide to make a deal to land a selection in this year’s draft, all signs are pointing toward Obi Toppin being part of the package.
Toppin turned 25 toward the end of the 2022-23 regular season and after being drafted No. 8 overall in 2020, he’s averaged only 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.7 minutes in his first three years in the league. Those aren’t numbers that are expected out of a lottery pick, but he’s played behind Julius Randle, who enjoyed his first All-NBA/All-Star season during Toppin’s rookie year.
It was assumed that Toppin was going to be on the move ahead of the trade deadline in February. Knicks fans had already started to say their goodbyes to the power forward on Twitter, however, the only move that New York made was centered around sending Cam Reddish to Portland for Josh Hart. Toppin stayed put.
New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy (subscription required) recently reported that although Toppin didn’t say anything to the media, there were times throughout this past season when he was frustrated with his role. Newsday’s Steve Popper (subscription required) followed that report up with one of his own where he wrote that Toppin was reportedly hoping for a trade ahead of the deadline and now that it’s the offseason, “both sides are in alignment that it’s time for a change of scenery.”
Obi Toppin-New York Knicks trade rumors heat up before 2023 NBA Draft
The Pacers have three picks in the first round — No. 7, No. 26, and No. 29. If the Knicks want to land a late first-round pick, it could happen by sending Obi Toppin to Indiana. He’s been linked to the Pacers in the past and going to Indianapolis would give him the increased role that he’s been waiting for.
As much as some fans would like to see Julius Randle traded, Randle has far more of a concrete future with the Knicks than Toppin. Rather than stay with the Knicks and continue to be stashed on the bench by Tom Thibodeau, it’s past time for Toppin to go unlock his potential elsewhere.
Steve Popper added that multiple teams believe that New York will be trying to trade into the draft, even if that means making a last-minute deal ahead of the pick that the Knicks are eyeing. When you pair that with New York and Toppin reportedly being on the same page about his lack of a future with the organization, it would make sense for the Knicks to use Toppin to get a draft pick.
Wherever Obi Toppin winds up, he’s still going to have a large part of the Knicks fanbase rooting for him. It’s a shame that the start of his career didn’t pan out the way that many hoped it would in New York, but it’s time to accept the very real possibility that he’s already played his final game with the Knicks.
9 Players the New York Knicks gave up on way too soon
The New York Knicks gave up on these nine players way too soon, chasing win-now options and living to regret it in every case.