Knicks · Obi Conundrum (page 1)

Something to keep in mind with summer league kicking off is Obi Toppin should generally look good for however many games he plays and his value will never be higher considering he’s still early in his rookie deal. It’s a good problem to have, and we all like Obi a lot, but Randle just locked in for 5 years. Additionally, Noel was resigned, Gibson too, and Sims drafted, which limits opportunities at center unless Mitch is moved. I think a lot of teams are keeping an eye on Obi. I just don’t see a path to more than 14 mpg baring injury. I’m keeping an eye on Indiana. Thinking there might be a Myles Turner deal out there if Toppin impresses. Just a thought.

It is a long season, people get injured, and we occasionally had a dearth of big guys. Plus Taj will be fast approaching the senior end-of-bench-locker-room-leadership player-coach status.

I only wish Thibs were not so stubbornly wed to short rotations.

I don't think Obi will be a star - but one can hope. How would trading a Rookie contract Obi for someone like Turner who needs MORE minutes work?

Why trade Mitch+Obi+another player (to match contracts; such as Burks) for Turner be a good move?

I think we need to save Mitch+Obi+youth for a superstar trade (Beal, Lillard) or just develop them so they are ready to step in when/if needed. This is sports, there will be injuries, and there will be opportunity.

Caseloads wrote:I don't think Obi will be a star - but one can hope. How would trading a Rookie contract Obi for someone like Turner who needs MORE minutes work?

Why trade Mitch+Obi+another player (to match contracts; such as Burks) for Turner be a good move?

I think we need to save Mitch+Obi+youth for a superstar trade (Beal, Lillard) or just develop them so they are ready to step in when/if needed. This is sports, there will be injuries, and there will be opportunity.

Obi, Knox, Mith and picks for Myles Turner. Not sure if thats enough to get it done, but I would trade for Turner if thats the price. Turner's outside shooting would do wonders for our offense. Randle could operate in the post and kicks to 4 shooters. Its so easy to double Randle because our centers can't shoot. Turner is the perfect center for this team

Jmpasq wrote:

Caseloads wrote:I don't think Obi will be a star - but one can hope. How would trading a Rookie contract Obi for someone like Turner who needs MORE minutes work?

Why trade Mitch+Obi+another player (to match contracts; such as Burks) for Turner be a good move?

I think we need to save Mitch+Obi+youth for a superstar trade (Beal, Lillard) or just develop them so they are ready to step in when/if needed. This is sports, there will be injuries, and there will be opportunity.

Obi, Knox, Mith and picks for Myles Turner. Not sure if thats enough to get it done, but I would trade for Turner if thats the price. Turner's outside shooting would do wonders for our offense. Randle could operate in the post and kicks to 4 shooters. Its so easy to double Randle because our centers can't shoot. Turner is the perfect center for this team

Obi AND mitch PLUS picks for Turner? No thanks. There is not that market for bigs, let alone turner. An uninjured Mitch is a great center for this young team. I don't want my centers shooting 3s.

The NBA is really a wingman's game. It's nice that we went hard this year and made the playoffs, but not sure that was the best move, as the top of the lotto was incredible this year.

Turner would be a perfect fit for this team. Getting him for Obi and Mitch is approaching fair value. I don't know why Indiania would want Obi though. Might need a third team involved.

Jmpasq wrote:

Caseloads wrote:I don't think Obi will be a star - but one can hope. How would trading a Rookie contract Obi for someone like Turner who needs MORE minutes work?

Why trade Mitch+Obi+another player (to match contracts; such as Burks) for Turner be a good move?

I think we need to save Mitch+Obi+youth for a superstar trade (Beal, Lillard) or just develop them so they are ready to step in when/if needed. This is sports, there will be injuries, and there will be opportunity.

Obi, Knox, Mith and picks for Myles Turner. Not sure if thats enough to get it done, but I would trade for Turner if thats the price. Turner's outside shooting would do wonders for our offense. Randle could operate in the post and kicks to 4 shooters. Its so easy to double Randle because our centers can't shoot. Turner is the perfect center for this team

Minus the picks but the players you mentioned for Turner is what I had in mind. Turner fits like a glove. But a third team who likes what they see from Toppin may be needed. Or maybe not.

Would take a chance on greatness with Jaren Jackson Jr over Turner.

TLover wrote:Would take a chance on greatness with Jaren Jackson Jr over Turner.

That’s a good option too.

No way do we ever trade Obi Toppin. If anything happens to Julius Randle with an injury it could become Obi Toppin @ PF who saves our season.

Obi Toppin looked awesome yesterday. Looked like the player who was supposed to go top 5 out of Dayton.

C: Obi Toppin.
PF: Julius Randle.
SF: Evan Fournier.
SG: RJ Barrett.
PG: Kemba Walker/Derrick Rose.

I'd like to see that starting 5 once Mitchell Robinson gets into foul trouble and/or just looking to stretch the court.

NYKMentality wrote:No way do we ever trade Obi Toppin. If anything happens to Julius Randle with an injury it could become Obi Toppin @ PF who saves our season.

Obi Toppin looked awesome yesterday. Looked like the player who was supposed to go top 5 out of Dayton.

C: Obi Toppin.
PF: Julius Randle.
SF: Evan Fournier.
SG: RJ Barrett.
PG: Kemba Walker/Derrick Rose.

I'd like to see that starting 5 once Mitchell Robinson gets into foul trouble and/or just looking to stretch the court.

If you are confident thibs will see him as a future center than he should be a keeper.

No, don't trade him, he's a freaking stud on a rookie scale deal.. if he earns a big time second we'll have a decision to make but I see no reason to trade him until that happens

Sambakick wrote:Turner would be a perfect fit for this team. Getting him for Obi and Mitch is approaching fair value. I don't know why Indiania would want Obi though. Might need a third team involved.

People underestimate how much better this team would be with Turner. His outside shooting would open up the paint for Randle and RJ to work. Our centers are terrible offensivly. Turner can stretch the floor. He is still young. He is only 2 years older than Toppin

Knicks aren't at the point yet where they should be trading depth and assets to get from good to great. It took a few seasons near the top for Milwaukee to upgrade from Bledsoe/ Hill to Holiday. We aren't there yet.

I want to see a full season of Mitchell with Thibs before I even consider trading him. A healthy Mitchell for the 4th season in a row will be a top 10 value contract. I think Obi at center can give probably about 70% of Turner's production at a third of the price.

gradyandrew wrote:Knicks aren't at the point yet where they should be trading depth and assets to get from good to great. It took a few seasons near the top for Milwaukee to upgrade from Bledsoe/ Hill to Holiday. We aren't there yet.

I want to see a full season of Mitchell with Thibs before I even consider trading him. A healthy Mitchell for the 4th season in a row will be a top 10 value contract. I think Obi at center can give probably about 70% of Turner's production at a third of the price.

Obi can defend nowhere near the level of Turner.

Sambakick wrote:Turner would be a perfect fit for this team. Getting him for Obi and Mitch is approaching fair value. I don't know why Indiania would want Obi though. Might need a third team involved.

I agree that Turner would take this team to the next level but since he is recovering from injury, I doubt the Knicks make any quick moves. The Knicks are trading or extending Mitch before the trade deadline. I doubt they risk losing him for nothing.

What did we see yesterday? While Berman fawns on Duarte block, not obi was not jumping and off balance. This is summer league and Obi was told and likely working on his handle to go coast to coast. LIke last year we see KNicks attacking the rim and getting blocked. Its not always pretty but thats what the coach wants.
“Conundrum”………..
Young athletic PF working on his game in his sophomore year as a pro. No labels. If the gauge is “8th pick” thats one measure.
If its just OBI then he is 2nd team back up PF to allstar who just signed a extension.
He has a role to fill as on court player and trade asset if and when opportunity knocks. Simple.

This only becomes a real conundrum if Obi becomes more productive than one of the other starters - or provides something the other starters don't. That would force Thibs to make some hard choices on how to distribute his minutes.

Last season's version of Randle was really a super player - great all-around; a very elite few would demand minutes over him. The only area that Obi was notable better was as an above the rim finisher/alley-oop, so he has to keep doing that, particularly if Mitch isn't playing.

Here's the highlight video from yesterday's game. It looks like he's playing with confidence and was aggressive following up his own shot. Some shades of Amare Stoudemire.

Jmpasq wrote:

gradyandrew wrote:Knicks aren't at the point yet where they should be trading depth and assets to get from good to great. It took a few seasons near the top for Milwaukee to upgrade from Bledsoe/ Hill to Holiday. We aren't there yet.

I want to see a full season of Mitchell with Thibs before I even consider trading him. A healthy Mitchell for the 4th season in a row will be a top 10 value contract. I think Obi at center can give probably about 70% of Turner's production at a third of the price.

Obi can defend nowhere near the level of Turner.

Yet somehow they both had an identical defensive rating.

Ok I know Im gonna get roasted with this one but I see Obi as a poor mans Amare. Not a dead outside shot, but his hops the second and third time around the basket reminds me of Amare.Also the way he runs and carries himself. Let the roasting begin

Things can change but, so far, Obi has shown nothing but a rotational player so far. If the right offer comes along, he is not the type of player to hold a trade up for, especially if the player we are talking about is Turner. If Pacers are willing to take Mitch and Obi for Turner, Knicks should do that in a heartbeat. If the Knicks had Turner in the playoffs, Capella wouldn't have been able to play "free safety".

but...a trade like that, although we will be upgrading our center position, our PF depth will take a hit since Obi and Randle are only "Power Forwards" on the team.