INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 05: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball in the fourth ... [+] quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 05, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesNew York Knicks forward Obi Toppin is eligible for a contract extension before the start of next season, after having completed his third season in the NBA.
Toppin had a productive year of 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.7 minutes, but wasn't able to further build on the year he had in 2021-2022, where he played more minutes (17.1), and looked like a future starter.
So, what exactly happened?
Part of it was the fact that Julius Randle was available for 77 games, and able to play almost 36 minutes per game. After the arrival of Jalen Brunson in free agency, head coach Tom Thibodeau decided to hand the keys to the team's three premier players of Randle, Brunson, and RJ Barrett. The trio all played north of 33 minutes per night, and occupied major chunks of the offense when on the floor.
Another reason for Toppin's somewhat pedestrian season was the evolution of Mitchell Robinson, the athletic rim-running center, who occupied much of the interior. With all of Brunson, Randle, and Barrett looking to create with the ball in their hands, and Robinson playing the dunker spot, it left Toppin to pick up the scraps in the offense, which meant functioning as a spot-up shooter - a role he could handle to some capacity, but one he isn't best served as.
On the year, Toppin launched 247 three-pointers in just 1,050 minutes. The three-point shot made up 58.9% of his offense, a stark increase from the 35.7% it made up last season.
To further hammer the point home, Toppin, an explosive athlete who is an effective pick-and-roll target, had 102 dunks last year, but just 52 this season. 50.5% of his shot attempts came from within three feet of the basket, compared to just 28.9% this year.
Essentially, the Knicks put Toppin in an unusual role where his primary strengths were never on full display, and he had to constantly adjust to the players around him to see court time.
So what should we make of the fact that Toppin is extension eligible?
The 25-year-old is one of the older players to look for a rookie extension, as a new contract will trigger on July 1st 2024, after he's turned 26. That means any contact extension is likely to carry him through his physical prime and into his Age 30 season.
Determining value on such a contract is additionally tricky. Presumably, Randle isn't going anywhere, meaning minutes won't be easy to come by. Furthermore, Randle will earn over $30 million in 2024-2025, the year a Toppin extension would kick in. Would the Knicks even be interested in committing over $40 million per year to the power forward position?
More than likely, Toppin will enter the summer 2024 as a restricted free agent, allowing him to find other suitors. If he's offered a substantial wage, odds are decent the Knicks would consider not matching due to aforementioned dedication to Randle.
All in all, the above scenario makes trading Toppin this summer a realistic possibility.
While teams aren't keen on trading for players who are just a year from free agency, Toppin's offensive ability - when used accurately - would be a boon to many teams where elite playmaking is already established. The Indiana Pacers could do much worse than trading for Toppin and pair him with Tyrese Haliburton. The same can be said of the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Dončić.
Even if the Knicks aren't keen on moving Toppin due to that upside, they've reached a point where they will need to read the tea leaves, and make a call that's best for them in the long-term. Forcing themselves to overpay for Toppin in a backup role, or to lose him for nothing, should be non-starters.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Morten Stig Jensen, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mortenjensen/2023/05/22/the-new-york-knicks-should-think-about-trading-obi-toppin/
By: Morten Stig Jensen, Contributor
Title: The New York Knicks Should Think About Trading Obi Toppin
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/mortenjensen/2023/05/22/the-new-york-knicks-should-think-about-trading-obi-toppin/
Published Date: 05-22-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best free throw shooter of all time?
Many basketball fans disagree on the answer, but many agree that Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors' best free-throw shoter, is the most outstanding. With 402. This remarkable player is the record holder for the most 3-point conversions in one season.
Karl Malone holds the record with 9,787 free throws. He also has attempted more free throws than anyone else at 13,188 attempts, resulting in a 74.20% success rate.
What is the NBA salary limit?
The NBA salary cap limits the total salary each team can earn. Each year, the league sets this limit. This limit is set by the league each year to ensure equal playing field between teams. It prevents teams from signing multiple high-priced athletes and creates an unfair advantage. Teams must stay under the cap to sign free agents or make trades. They can exceed it if they use certain exceptions, such as signing a player with Bird rights or offering a player a contract with portions of their salary counted against the cap and the remaining portion paid out as a bonus. The league's salary cap plays an important role in ensuring a balanced playing field between teams.
Who invented the game of basketball?
While it isn't known exactly where basketball originated, it's widely believed that James Naismith (now Springfield College), was a teacher at the International Young Men's Christian Association's Training School (now Springfield College). Naismith created the rules and attached a peach basket to an elevated track. He broke his class down into nine teams, and then began to teach his new game "Basket Ball" to his students. Original version included a soccer ball and two baskets of peaches attached to each end of a gymnasium. Goaltending was not an option as players could only shoot at baskets from below. The game gradually spread across America, and by the early 1900s, basketball had become an organized sport with professional teams playing in large arenas. It is now one of most popular sports around the world.
Statistics
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
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How To
What is the best way to get drafted into the NBA?
There are two ways to become a NBA player: high school or college.
College players attend NCAA schools like Duke University, North Carolina State University, or the University of Kentucky. These schools offer four-years of education and training. In this time, the players learn how to play ball handling, shooting, rebounding, and other skills. They also learn how to manage an offense and defend. They also develop the mental skills necessary to become a professional runner.
Prep schools are open to high school athletes from outside their home states. These schools focus on developing talent by providing athletes with individualized attention. The schools teach academics, character development and sportsmanship.
Both types players must pass the identical physical tests to be eligible for the draft. The test consists of running 40 yards, jumping over a 5'6" box, standing on one leg, and throwing a football through a tire.
These players are invited to take part in training sessions at various NBA teams if they pass the tests. They are evaluated based on their height and weight as well as their speed.
Teams also consider their past experiences. For instance, if a player has played AAU basketball, he will likely receive preferential treatment.
Some players are considered too small for professional play and are known as "one-and done" prospects. The second round of the draft usually chooses these players.
Some players opt to skip college and join the NBA straight away. These players are known to be "prospects". Prospects do not need to wait for the end of the calendar year to be declared eligible for the draft.
They may apply for an exemption in order to be permitted to join the draft earlier. Prospects can apply for an exemption to be allowed to enter the draft early.
Prospects can improve their chances of getting selected by participating in summer leagues. Summer league games are held in July and August.
Scouts have the chance to see players in action at these events without worrying about injury.
The NBA Draft is held each June. The draft is where all the top prospects are evaluated by the NBA teams. Each team is given a number of picks during each round.
For example, the first pick in the first round is the 15th overall selection. In the third round the 20th selection will be the 60th.
After the draft, teams make trades in order to fill their rosters. Some teams host mini-camp tryouts, inviting potential draftees along to train with them.
Draft day is exciting! What happens next
There is no waiting around for your name to come up once the draft has begun. Every NBA team chooses from the pool of potential players.
A contract is sent to a player once he has been selected by the team. It details his salary, playing hours, and benefits. He is now a member.
He also gets a jersey with the name of his choice on the back, and a new uniform with his nickname.
Finally, he signs the contract. He officially joins NBA.
