New York Knicks Regretting Obi Toppin Trade?
The New York Knicks' rocky start to the 2023-24 season has been attributed to a slow start from two-time All-Star Julius Randle: the leading scorer from last year's playoff group has had consecutive strong efforts in wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs but shot just over 27 percent from the field over his first six.
If the Knicks want to duplicate, or even expand upon, last year's success, Randle needs to be at the top of his game. Having a reliable backup in the power forward spot would certainly help, but the Knicks cast away that depth by trading Obi Toppin to the Indiana Pacers over the summer.
With Julius Randle's slow start to the season, the New York Knicks could be missing the presence of Obi Toppin
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Documenting potential early regrets for the Knicks, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report feels the Toppin trade, which netted the meager return of two second-round picks, could chief among those concerns.
"The Knicks traded away Randle's longtime backup, former lottery pick Obi Toppin, and never bothered to refill that role," Buckley wrote. "So, the Knicks don't really have any other options for when Randle doesn't have it going."
"So far this season, he appears to have regressed into his least efficient form. Granted, early-season struggles are magnified by the size of the sample, but there are only so many ways to polish the statistical eyesore that is Randle's 29.9/25/67.5 slash line."
Despite his early struggles and working off offseason ankle surgery, Randle has averaged over 34 minutes a night. The team has used Josh Hart as a de facto Toppin replacement after releasing Isaiah Roby as part of their final training camp cuts. Toppin, who never found a consistent spot in the Knicks' rotation, has appeared in Indiana's starting lineup and has averaged 9.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in eight appearances.
The Knicks will get plenty more chances the rest of the season that they made the right decision in trading Toppin, starting with Sunday afternoon's visit from the Charlotte Hornets (12 p.m. ET, MSG).
