Obi Toppin has by no means damaged via the best way anticipated of an NBA Draft lottery choose. That’s not completely his fault. However the New York Knicks ahead has an enormous alternative in entrance of him, one which comes from heartbreak within the Massive Apple.
Late within the second quarter of Wednesday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Miami Warmth, Julius Randle was pressured to exit with an ankle damage. The star wasn’t capable of return to the successful effort.
The ankle damage proved to be a sprain. Not worst case state of affairs, however not one thing Randle goes to play via at this level within the season. He’s set to be reevaluated in two weeks, all however ruling him out of an everyday season return.
With Julius Randle out for not less than two weeks, it is a huge second for Obi Toppin to step up for the New York Knicks.
Coach Tom Thibodeau can tackle the Randle damage in some ways. One anticipated resolution is to attempt some small ball techniques with Josh Hart within the lineup; he has been a serious a part of the staff’s success since coming over on the commerce deadline.
Irrespective of how Thibodeau tinkers, there’s no world the place Toppin doesn’t take up a few of Randle’s minutes. If Toppin needs to play a big half within the Knicks’ playoff rotation and alter his future outlook, these subsequent few video games are the right probability to take action.
The previous eighth general choose doesn’t usually get numerous run from Thibodeau, which has been a speaking level in New York since Toppin was taken within the 2020 draft. He’s solely averaged 14.4 minutes per recreation, although he has performed extra in every of the final two: a blowout over the Houston Rockets and the sport the place Randle was injured.
For the yr, the bouncy baller is averaging 6.3 factors and a couple of.8 rebounds per recreation. His capturing has been notably disappointing, hitting lower than 33 p.c of his threes and barely dragging his profession share up.
Since Toppin isn’t proving to be a lot of a three-point shooter, regardless of persevering with to get a inexperienced mild from the teaching employees, the staff ought to attempt to make use of him extra within the pick-and-roll. His go off of these performs could possibly be a weapon and his skill to leap and assault the offensive glass could possibly be useful as nicely.
In feedback after Randle’s damage, Thibodeau famous it will take a collective strategy to interchange Randle, slightly than one individual (H/T SNY). He talked about his confidence in Toppin, but additionally introduced up Hart and Jericho Sims to play the 4.
There’s been no public acrimony between Thibodeau and Toppin through the years, nevertheless it’s been a standard criticism among the many Knicks devoted that the coach hasn’t given his younger participant sufficient of a leash. Now he could not have a alternative.
If Toppin can spend these subsequent few weeks proving that he deserves extra enjoying time, maybe he has a future within the Massive Apple. If not, a break between Toppin and the Knicks could also be within the offing shortly.
Earlier than the season, the Knicks picked up the fourth-year possibility on Toppin’s contract, so he ought to get not less than yet another season with the staff. Roster continuity is a rising precedence for the franchise, although he might at all times be dealt throughout the offseason if he’s not seen as a key piece to the staff’s future.
What occurs with Obi Toppin’s future could possibly be primarily based on what occurs over the subsequent two weeks. It’s time for him to indicate the New York Knicks – and extra particularly, coach Tom Thibodeau – what he can do.
