Obi Toppin is worth monitoring during trade season
The clock is starting in earnest on Obi Toppin.
The power forward has wowed fans with his electric dunks, but remains on the end of any rotation featuring Julius Randle, leaving Toppin as one of the main Knicks to monitor as trade season approaches.
Toppin, the eighth overall pick in 2020, is eligible for a contract extension before the season. If the sides don’t reach an agreement by the October deadline, Toppin becomes a restricted free agent next summer.
Then the Knicks risk losing him for nothing, or a lot less than what could be retrieved in a trade before that point.
It wouldn’t make sense for either side to sign a new contract as long as Toppin is Randle’s backup. With Randle’s workload consistently high, Toppin’s averages in minutes (15.7), points (7.4), rebounds (2.8), assists (1.0) and field-goal percentage (44.6%) all fell last season. On offense, the 25-year-old became more of a spot-up 3-point shooter with the reserves. A source said Toppin was frustrated at times with his role, although he refrained from complaining to the media.
The first big window to recoup something for Toppin is during Thursday’s draft. The Knicks don’t have a pick but could use Toppin to either get a pick this year, a future pick, or another player.
A league executive tapped Toppin’s trade value as a late first-rounder. The Pacers, who own the 26th and 29th picks on Thursday, have been speculated as a partner since they were also interested in Toppin before last season’s trade deadline.
Despite the logical reasons for dealing Toppin, there are several factors that could prevent it. First, the Knicks hold Toppin in high regard – particularly Knicks executive William Wesley, AKA World Wide Wes, who has long been understood as an ardent Toppin supporter. There’s also the question of Randle’s future. If the Knicks indeed make a push for a star player, Randle might be shipped out and Toppin’s presence becomes more important.
To be clear, there’s no rush. The clock hits an important time at the draft but the Knicks have until the February 2024 trade deadline to unload Toppin before he hits free agency. The Brooklyn native and 2022 Slam Dunk champion missed several weeks last season after fracturing a bone in his knee.
His gift is speed and athleticism, but defense and rebounding continues to represent a hurdle to more playing time. Tom Thibodeau has also determined that he will only sparingly play Toppin and Randle together, if at all.
AN UNLIKELY REUNION?
With the Wizards dealing Bradley Beal and entering a full blown rebuild, Kristaps Porzingis can step right into the market.
Porzingis, now 27, is reportedly considering picking up his $36 million player option for next season, which would make him easily trade-able as an expiring contract and a low-risk move for any suitors. If he declines the option, Porzingis becomes an unrestricted free agent – making it more difficult for the Knicks, who have no cap space, to acquire him.
It’s unclear if the Knicks have any interest in Porzingis, whose defense and quickness have diminished a bit since his New York days because of injuries. His acquisition would give Tom Thibodeau something he’s currently lacking – a center who can space the floor and unclog lanes for Jalen Brunson.
Porzingis and Brunson were teammates in Dallas, and a source said they got along well. When Porzingis last played for the Knicks, the organization pinned much of the fallout on the Latvian’s brother, Janis, who they claimed was too demanding.
However, as the Daily News reported last season, Porzingis’s brother, Janis, is no longer his agent. Porzingis is now repped by power agent Jeff Schwartz. Janis has taken a backseat in his younger brother’s career, per a source, and started his own agency last year that features European clients.
Kristaps Porzingis, meanwhile, has been open about his desire to rekindle a positive relationship with Knicks fans after he was labeled enemy No. 1 following his the trade request.
“I miss this place (Madison Square Garden) a lot,” Porzingis said last season.
()