The Knicks‘ decision to sell cheaply on Obi Toppin two years ago is looking worse as he plays an important role for the Pacers in the NBA Finals, writes Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News.
After being selected with the eighth pick in the 2020 draft, Toppin had three productive years in New York, but he didn’t appear to have a future while being stuck behind starting power forward Julius Randle. Winfield notes that Randle is now gone, having been traded to Minnesota in October, and Toppin is the type of athletic big man the Knicks need on their bench.
The return from Indiana for Toppin was meager: second-round picks in 2028 and 2029. He has blossomed with the Pacers, averaging 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22 playoff games with .497/.333/.694 shooting numbers. Winfield points out that he’s doing it in the exact role the Knicks weren’t sure he could handle, backing up a star power forward in Pascal Siakam.
Winfield also states that Knicks management made a habit of giving up on young talent throughout the Tom Thibodeau era, citing RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes as other examples. Pacome Dadiet, Tyler Kolek, Kevin McCullar and Ariel Hukporti were all added in last year’s draft and James Nnaji may be joining the team soon, but Winfield questions whether they’ll get a chance to prove themselves.
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks have interviewed Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown in their coaching search while keeping an eye on Jason Kidd‘s situation in Dallas, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscriber link). Bondy suggests that Kidd’s relationship with the Mavericks could deteriorate if he doesn’t receive an extension, so New York hasn’t completely given up hope. A source tells Bondy that the Knicks haven’t requested permission to talk with Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant, who no longer appears to be a priority after looking like an early favorite for the job.
- Sources tell draft expert Rafael Barlowe of The NBA Big Board (subscriber link) that the Nets are “the favorite destination for a lot of prospects — and a lot of agents” (hat tip to Nets Daily). Barlowe explains that Brooklyn is popular because it’s a large market that offers exposure and endorsement opportunities, and there’s a chance for immediate playing time. There has been speculation that Ace Bailey has a desire to join the Nets, and Barlowe hears that Brooklyn is considering a move up into the top five.
- In a separate Nets Daily story, Lucas Kaplan examines the fit of BYU guard Egor Demin, who has been rumored as a possible Nets draft pick.
Give me a break with a nonsense on Toppin He is a limited player. He can provide some instant energy on offense. But a lot of times he’s either on or off. He’s a good energy offense player but the Knicks drafted him as a starter and more of an impact player which he has never been, and he never will be. He can’t rebound and can’t defend. So stop with the feel good stories just because he’s in the NBA finals.
And by the way, this: “He has blossomed with the Pacers, averaging 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22 playoff games with .497/.333/.694 shooting numbers”
That’s blossoming? Those numbers really aren’t that good. Come on.
“Winfield also states that Knicks management made a habit of giving up on young talent throughout the Tom Thibodeau era, citing RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes as other examples.”
More idiot propaganda. Quickley played a lot. So did Barrett. Their value was raised so the Knicks could trade for OG. And Grimes was immensely inconsistent. How many times has this guy been traded? Utter nonsense.
Agreed on this 100 percent. Obi is a nice player and may have a ring 24 hours from now but that doesn’t mean he was ever going to be what the Knicks need/needed. He didn’t fit, so let it go.
Spot on. The revisionism on the Knicks just so fools can dunk on them is hilarious. Obi, IQ, RJ, and Grimes played a ton. Maybe they should have hung on to Obi a little longer, but it’s not like he’s lit the world on fire since he left. He’s a role player, nothing more.
IQ and RJ had their values boosted by getting enough playing time to net them OG. I didn’t agree with the trade at the time but it’s worked out for the Knicks considering what the Raptors have gotten out of IQ and RJ (a lot of this is due to injuries, but still).
And give me a break on Grimes. He was the Knicks *starting SG* but was so inconsistent and downright bad that he played his way out of the lineup. Wasn’t great in Detroit or Dallas, but we’re going to hang our hat on 20 or so games when he was the #1 option, playing with scrubs on an injured Sixers team? Please. By the way, the Sixers went 4-24 in games that Grimes played in. Some star in the making.
Winfield is an idiot. Gotta give to get. Give up on players like IQ and RJ? They had Brunson at point and acquired OG. I’m sure they’d do it again. And again. And Topin had issues with Thibs at the time. Wasn’t giving up on him, but rather clearing the situation.
Thibs is a horrible coach. That’s the whole story really.
Exactly…
Can you recall the Knick‘s situation before Tom Thibodeau arrived? It wasn’t good. I think the Knicks will soon miss Thibodeau‘s contributions.
Was he perfect.., of course not. But I give the guy a ton of credit for making Knicks basketball relevant again.
Give many coaches those players and it’s gonna happen…
Did Thibs have the right players for him? No they were merely human…
I’ve seen all these post saying they’d like JJJ to pair with KAT and I think yes that’s a perfect pairing but what’s the cost going to be on that kinda trade.
Mikal and OG for JJJ and Brandon Clarke or Cole Anthony?
Both Clarke and Cole wouldn’t be needed on the court with Mitch and McBride there but are needed for the deal. But that’s also a lot to give up.
Brunson Hart … JJJ KAT
McBride … … … Mitch
If you can flip Cole/Clarke for another role player and hope to get lucky in FA then sure go for it.
Those two as a combo would be great and Brunson is the real deal but it’s very risky.
As for Memphis they’d love that.
Ja Mikal OG, resign Aldama and you’ve got all the picks from the Bams deal and KCP as a contract to trade and all those good young role players like Pippen Jr and GG.
Don’t see it happening but I think it could be great for both sides
Don’t cry over spilled milk. Knicks just lost in East Finals. With a new team basically. In Thibs 5th year here. They thanked him by firing him. Enjoy the vacation and the 30 mill coach ….,
Knicks had major success with their draft picks under Thibs. All were late picks except for Obi (#8). And were developed and traded for more value than they paid. Focus on the future.
We all know where Knicks need help. Nothing gets done until we have a coach. I’m just waiting on that. Don’t want to mess this up. Like Dolan can ……
Knicks have young talent. They need young vets. To add depth to this team. They have to fix, adjust their D. Behind Towns and Brunson. Best way to help bench. Is to add shooting. We’ll see how they handle it. ……….
Michael Malone.
Absolutely…just because he’s thriving elsewhere shouldn’t mean you rip his game to pieces. Limited player is whooping OKC off the bench. Prioritise match ups, and Obi is free to make the Thunder pay. Which he is certainly doing to this point. Same goes for TJ. These guys don’t have a problem with him getting attention.
Some of y’all are fans of the tibbler who ruined careers. Say what you want about Mr Obi Toppin he’s contributing to a championship team and think about it think what he would have done for us instead of 20 million dollars Josh Hart? Are you kidding me he plays Center and forward is shooting over 40% against OKC and is in line for ring that’s the problem with some of you New Yorkers me being a New York Knick fan is glad that the Thibbler is out of here you’ve all been Thibbled by the Thibbler.
Use of “y’all” = opinion invalidated
There’s no problem with the firing.
But you have to give Thibodeau credit for getting the team to this point.
It’s up to the next guy to bring them further. Tom gets a lot of credit in my opinion.
But I’ll tell you what, let’s see how they do after kicking him to the curb.
I’ve said repeatedly giving up on OB1, and Grimes have killed the Knicks. They would be in the finals with both players on their bench now.
My main concern is Dolan….. I don’t want him too close to team. Rose better stand up to him.
Knicks have options. They can make a big trade. Or trades to level up. Just nothing can get done . Till we have a coach and direction. They are in a good place ……… Thibs got fired mostly for not beating Pacers. Yet they are one gm away from a chip.
Michael Malone …..
Toppin? LOL. First, they needed to trade him to sign Donte DiV, who was, is and will remain a better player than Toppin The draft pick return was light, but no salary came back, allowing us to sign Donte.
Also, Toppin wasn’t satisfied with the role of backup PF with the NYK, and made that known. The FO accommodated him by sending him to the one team where he would have the opportunity to compete for the starting PF job. He was penciled in, in fact, but could not hold the starting spot. IND then traded for Siakam. Toppin, at that point, settled into the backup role he rejected with the NYK.
Winfield was covering the NYK at the time, and he knows this. The only thing one can be critical of the NYK FO for is being overly accommodative to Toppin. But they got what they wanted. It was a win-win at the time. Nothing subsequent matters.
Now, if he wants to write a real article on the Grimes, then maybe there’s a story there. But Thibs LOVED Grimes, and made him a starter early in his 2nd season benching a big money FA to do so. So, it wasn’t Thibs that sent Grimes packing.