The Indiana Pacers have emerged as the leading trade suitor for New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Toppin has career averages of 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He is behind All-Star Julius Randle in the Knicks’ rotation and wants more playing time.
Toppin is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension this offseason. He would become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2024 if he doesn’t reach an extension.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Obi Toppin, New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers Updates
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Toppin and Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau got into an intense verbal altercation during the 2023 playoffs. The incident happened after the Knicks lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat in South Beach.
“According to league sources who were present, once the final buzzer sounded Toppin aired his grievances to Thibodeau,” Katz wrote. “The 24-year-old wants to play, and he wants to win. That evening, neither happened. An intense verbal altercation occurred between the player and coach as the group trekked to the Kaseya Center visiting locker room in Miami. It spilled into the postgame meeting once the doors closed.
“On this occasion, as Toppin yelled at Thibodeau in front of teammates so fresh off a loss that they were still in uniform, assistant coach Rick Brunson stepped in to stand up for his boss. Toppin and Brunson got into it for a moment. Randle, Evan Fournier and Josh Hart next pulled Toppin aside to cool him off.”
It sounds like Toppin needs a fresh start somewhere and the Pacers seem like a good fit for him since they have one of the best young point guards in the NBA in Tyrese Haliburton. The 23-year-old averaged 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists this season while shooting 49.0% from the field, 40.0% from beyond the arc and 87.1% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Obi Toppin, New York Knicks & Indiana Pacers Updates
Haliburton recorded 32 double-doubles in 56 games. He could get Toppin a lot of easy looks in the half-court and in transition since he’s a gifted floor general.
It will be fascinating to see if the Pacers acquire Toppin, who averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds this past season.
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