Jacob Toppin and one other two-way signing Knicks made after draft

After weeks of speculation about whether or not the New York Knicks would trade into the 2023 NBA Draft, the organization walked away empty-handed. Instead, the Knicks turned their attention to the undrafted free agent market, where they signed Kentucky’s Jacob Toppin and Overtime Elite’s Jaylen Martin.

Jacob, the younger brother of Obi and a Brooklyn native, spent his freshman season at Rhode Island in 2019-20 before transferring to Kentucky. Martin spent the 2022-23 season with Overtime Elite.

Knicks fans will have to wait only a few weeks to see the younger Toppin and Martin in action at Summer League.

Knicks sign Jacob Toppin and Jaylen Martin to two-way deals after draft

Jacob Toppin is coming off the best season of his collegiate career where he averaged 12.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 33 games while shooting 46.3% from the field and only 30.5% from three. Kentucky made it to the second round of March Madness before being ousted by Kansas State, 75-69. Toppin had 18 points and six rebounds in the Wildcats’ first-round victory but struggled in his final game for Kentucky with only two points and four rebounds.

The 23-year-old six-foot-nine forward’s best game of the season game against rival Louisville in December when he dropped a career-high 24 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in an 86-63 rout.

Jacob plays with the same explosiveness as Obi and can run the floor like him, too.

As for Jaylen Martin, the six-foot-six wing averaged 14 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals for Overtime Elite this past season. He shot 37.6% from the floor and 26.7% from three.

The 19-year-old’s best game of the season came when he turned in 27 points (including four three-pointers) and 14 rebounds in an Elite win over the Falcons, which led to him being named the OTE Player of the Week. In the Elite’s six playoff games, Martin averaged 15.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Martin already has a connection to New York as he played under former Knicks guard Charlie Ward at Florida State University School.

Jacob Toppin and Jaylen Martin now occupy two of New York’s three two-way spots. Trevor Keels and Duane Washington Jr. were on two-way contracts to end the 2022-23 season. Depending on how the offseason shakes out, Toppin and/or Martin could make the final cut for the Knicks’ 2023-24 roster.

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.