The Indiana Pacers will acquire Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks in a trade for two future second-round picks, according to multiple reports.
With the Pacers reportedly close to sending Chris Duarte out to the Kings, Toppin would fill the final roster slot available after the Bruce Brown Jr. addition.
Toppin (8th) is now the fourth lottery pick from the 2020 draft on the Pacers roster joining Jalen Smith (10th), Tyrese Haliburton (12th), and Aaron Nesmith (14th).
It’s safe to say Haliburton is having himself a good time this off-season with the additions of Brown and Toppin and agreeing to his max extension that could be worth $260 million over five seasons.
Toppin only cost two seconds because he’ll be a restricted free agent next year. He’s never had a large role with the Knicks playing 15 minutes per game last year as he was stuck behind Julius Randle. Now he’s likely competing for the starting power forward job with fellow 8th overall pick Jarace Walker.
The Pacers may start the season with a lineup of Haliburton, Brown, Mathurin, Toppin, and Turner. With a deep bench group currently that includes Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell, Buddy Hield, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Isaiah Jackson, Jalen Smith, Jordan Nwora, Ben Sheppard, and Daniel Theis. It wouldn’t be surprising if there was another trade on the horizon that moved a player that could end up unhappy with their role in order to open up minutes and a roster slot to add a veteran for the locker room like George Hill and James Johnson were last season.
Toppin upped his 3-point percentage from 30% to 34.4% last season and shot 80% from the free-throw line. The high-flying athletic forward loves to play in transition and should be in line for a whole lot alley oops from Haliburton.
Toppin did his best to audition for the Pacers at the end of last season as he scored 34 and 32 points when they played twice in the final three games of the year.
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