If The Knicks Aren't Going to Play (and Pay) Obi Toppin, They Should Trade Him Now

Rui Hachimura, an enticingly talented and versatile combo forward, was selected by the Washington Wizards as the ninth overall pick out in the 2019 NBA draft. After an All-American campaign at Gonzaga, Hachimura averaged 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a rookie for the Wiz. This season, his fourth as a pro, Hachimura is averaging 13.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game.

On Monday, Washington traded Hachimura to the Lakers for the expiring contract of Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. 

The primary reason the Wizards were able to get so little in return for Hachimura (two of the second-rounders they received won't convey until 2028 and 2029) is that Rui will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Obi Toppin, an enticingly talented and versatile combo forward, was selected with the eighth overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2020 NBA draft. After an All-American campaign at Dayton, Obi averaged 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a rookie for the Knicks. This season, his third as a pro, Toppin is averaging 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game.

As I've talked about coming into the season and discussed in depth recently, the Knicks have to decide, sooner rather than later, if they view Obi as a vital piece of the franchise's future. 

Assuming Julius Randle and head coach Tom Thibodeau are going nowhere, New York's need to figure out if Obi can shine playing alongside Randle. However, despite enjoying arguably the best quarter of his season Sunday in Toronto, Obi logged just three minutes in the second half (despite the fact that NY was missing its starting center). 

It's become clear Thibs doesn't believe the Knicks can be successful with Randle and Toppin on the floor together. And that he's not willing to experiment enough to find out if his initial assumption is incorrect. And with Randle averaging 38.9 minutes per game (the second-most in the NBA) since mid-December, there aren't enough minutes left over for Obi.

Randle is in the first year of a four-year, $117 million contract that will keep him in New York through the 2025-26 season.

Toppin will be eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, but it doesn't make sense for New York to throw major money at a player that logs 15 minutes a night and has yet to prove himself on the NBA stage. And even when he's on the floor, Obi is rarely put in a position to maximize his greatest gifts.