@NotJesusss: How will the Knicks handle the Obi Toppin situation in your opinion? He’s a lottery pick player who isn’t being utilized highly and has shown that he’s capable of a starting role. With Julius occupying that position, do you see the organization parting ways with Obi this summer?
Great question, @NotJesusss. Just my opinion based on how things have played out to this point: the Knicks won’t feel pressure to trade Toppin this offseason just because he is eligible for an extension. (As an aside, I think they should find a new home for him because it’s the right thing to do.) That’s not to say that a trade is off the table, in my opinion. I think New York will be open to discussing potential trades of Toppin in the offseason. My opinion there is based on the talks they had leading up to the trade deadline that included Toppin. I don’t know if any deal involving Toppin ever got close to the finish line. The Knicks, per one team in touch with them, were seeking a significant return that included valuable draft compensation for Toppin. They had conversations with the Pacers that advanced beyond the cursory/exploratory stage.
Moving forward, I assume that the Knicks won’t move Toppin for anything less than what they see as equal value. They still have Toppin under contract for the 2023-24 season. So they can delay any decision on Toppin until the 2024 offseason. Toppin will be a restricted free agent that summer.
The Knicks can also sign Toppin to an extension this summer. Whatever you think of Toppin or the way the Knicks have used him, he has plenty of backers in the organization. And keeping him in New York for the next few seasons would give New York the kind of roster continuity that its lacked for most of the past two decades.
@jtc9181: Will Obi Toppin ever be given a true chance or ever be put in a position to succeed outside of the last 10 games of last year? When he was given that chance he proved himself to be a starter in this league on the right team. I feel he’s been treated unfairly since drafted. Thanks!
Hey @jtc9181, unless one of the Knicks in the current rotation gets hurt, I can’t see Toppin getting a chance to play more minutes than he’s currently playing. His run at the end of the season came when Julius Randle was hurt. With Randle healthy, it’s hard to see a pathway for more Toppin minutes. I’ve mentioned this before, but teams in touch with the Knicks felt that New York was open to moving Randle after they drafted Toppin. Obviously, Randle had an all-NBA season in 2020-21. So that ended any "trade Randle" talk. And Toppin has been playing behind an All-Star/all-NBA player for the past three seasons. As noted earlier, I think the Knicks should do the right thing and move Toppin, giving him opportunity to succeed elsewhere. Unrelated to your question: if Toppin gets traded, would you reveal your identity? I fully respect your support for Toppin. It’s commendable. I just wish I had more context about it. Are you a Dayton fan? Ossining High School alumni? Family member of Obi’s? I need to know.
@BROOKLYNSAINTS: Hart looks like a good fit for Thibs system. Are there other NBA players who meet Hart’s profile to be a realistic fit for the future?
You’re dead right about Hart. Tom Thibodeau said last week that he coveted Hart throughout his coaching career. When Thibodeau was in Minnesota and Hart was at Villanova, Thibodeau said Hart reminded him of Jimmy Butler. Speaking of Butler, I assume Thibodeau would love to reunite with the Heat star if the opportunity was ever there. Based on past offseasons, we know Thibs has been a Gordon Hayward fan. Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul and Reggie Bullock are some other players Thibodeau has spoken highly of.