Getty Image / Nicolas Economou
This offseason, New York Knicks fans have been waiting to see the franchise get busy making improvements.
They worked their way back to the playoffs during the 2022-23 season and even managed to win a playoff series for the first time since 2013.
However, in round 2, they were eliminated by the Miami Heat in 6 games in a series that proved they still have more progress to make if they are going to become a real contender.
Coming into this offseason, they had set themselves up to make a move to take that next step.
They have plenty of future draft capital and young talent that they could package to bring in another star to join this playoff roster.
Instead, they decided to trade away some that young talent for a pretty disappointing return.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks are trading Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for two 2nd round picks.
Knicks are finalizing trade to send F Obi Toppin to the Pacers for two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. Deal gives Toppin an opportunity to play a more significant role in Indiana and stacks up more draft assets for New York. Deal can’t be completed until Thursday. pic.twitter.com/suJPu8dXyM
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
The return does very little for the Knicks. 2nd round picks just don’t have a very good hit rate in the NBA.
All the move really does is clear cap space for the franchise so they can work on contract extension for Immanuel Quickley or maybe make another trade down the road.
Unfortunately, they gave up a player that could have been a useful trade piece to do so.
Toppin definitely hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being the 8th pick in the 2020 draft, but he has been a solid role player for the Knicks.
Despite being stuck behind Julius Randle in the rotation, Toppin contributed 9 and 7.4 points per game over the past two seasons.
Now he’ll have the chance to earn himself more playing time with the Indiana Pacers, who took very little risk on this move.
They haven’t been involved in any headline stealing moves this offseason, but the Pacers have begun putting together an interesting squad with the additions of Toppin and Bruce Brown Jr.
The expectation heading into this offseason was that the New York Knicks would trade Obi Toppin. They were just expected to get a better return for him.