Knicks Draft Trade Idea: Obi Toppin to Clippers?

The New York Knicks don't currently have a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but they could make a trade to get a rookie in this class if there's someone they really like.

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, for example, has suggested a trade that would send power forward Obi Toppin to the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 30 overall pick.

"I wonder if something along the lines of No. 30 for Obi Toppin could make sense if the New York Knicks are hesitant on paying Toppin long term, as he’s extension-eligible this offseason," Vecenie writes. "Toppin flashes well in inconsistent minutes, but he hasn’t quite put together a full season. Restarting his timeline with a different player on a rookie-scale deal could make sense for the Knicks as they hunt for a star and keep flexibility available in that search."

Toppin averaged 7.4 points per game this past season, a step below his mark from 2021-22. His status as a former top-10 pick springs a ton of potential, which on display during the Knicks' recent playoff run, but he's got a big roadblock named Julius Randle stuck in his way.

As a 2024 restricted free agent, the Knicks can match any offer Toppin gets on the open market next summer. However, given how little he plays, he may be snatched up by another team and offered something out of New York's price range. 

Toppin's value may never be as high as it is now, and the Knicks would be able to snag a first-round pick, infusing youth and a rookie contract into the roster, something that could help balance New York's free agency haul, bound to be headlined by veterans to push the team over the top.