Forward Obi Toppin, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is currently eligible for a rookie scale extension, says he’s looking forward to playing for the Pacers in 2023/24 after being acquired from New York in a trade last month. Part of that is Indiana’s “family-type environment,” but he also thinks it’ll be a good fit on the court as well, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star.
“That’s my game,” Toppin said at his camp in Dayton. “Everybody knows my game. In the open floor, I run the floor really hard. We’re gonna play with a fast pace. That what’s the league is. We’re not slowing it down. They’re trying to get a bucket in the first 10 seconds of the shot clock. I feel like that’s good for us, getting us as many easy buckets as we can.
“I just feel like Indiana’s vision is going to be playing me to my strengths. I feel like they’re going to allow me to get back to what I do best, which is put pressure on the rim, attack the rim.”
Here’s more from the Central:
- Longtime Pacers staffer Vance Catlin, who previously held the title of director of pro scouting, has been promoted to vice president of pro scouting, tweets Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. Catlin is known as a tireless worker and has been with the organization for 20 years, Agness notes.
- How do Pistons fans feel about the team’s offseason? Are they confident in Detroit’s direction? James L. Edwards III of The Athletic received over 1,500 votes from subscribers for his annual survey, and fans seem to be cautiously optimistic for the most part, despite the Pistons winning just 17 games last season. Notably, fans are bullish on Cade Cunningham‘s potential and the hiring of new head coach Monty Williams. Fans are less optimistic about Marvin Bagley III and James Wiseman, but Edwards believes the former No. 2 overall picks likely won’t have major roles, as Jalen Duren is firmly entrenched as the center of the future.
- The Bucks have a new head coach in Adrian Griffin and he will face some tough rotation decisions entering 2023/24, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Starting shooting guard and backup point guard are the two spots that appear the most tenuous at the moment. In fact, Milwaukee doesn’t have a traditional backup point guard on its 15-man roster, which makes Nehm wonder if the team will eventually take the “simplest” route by addressing the position with a trade or free agent addition.
Probably won’t happen, but I’d like to see PG Killian Hayes from Detroit go to Milwaukee. Plus defender and passer and ball handler. Too often his passes were too hot for his teammates to handle. His fault, but not really. Those passes would look different in Milwaukee. Shooting is a problem, real inconsistent when not consistently bad. But wouldn’t be needed at the same level, would never be the #1 option on the floor -also Detroit had Horrible offensive movement and spacing which couldn’t have helped.
Vance Catlin is a good dude… certainly earns everything he gets. Congrats to him!
Duren should be playing PF. Wiseman at C. Trade Bagley for a backup center
Portland should swoop in and grab Wiseman. 2 2nd rd picks and a pick swap should do it.
I said that three weeks ago
It’s a shame the Knicks drafted Toppin so high and never even gave him a chance. He looked really good when given minutes. Reminds me of Shawn Marion offensively. I’ll be rooting for him in Indiana
Buck note is moronic.
Celtics aren’t in the central