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Adjusting one's expectations to the proper level is always essential for a diehard sports fan. This struggle is infinitely greater for those who have sworn their loyalty to the New York Knicks.
Madison Square Garden is the Mecca, but it can also be known as the Heartbreak Hotel, House of Horrors, Palace of Pain, The Garden of Fruitlessness and Dolan's Den of Despair. Cliches and excessive phrasing aside, Knicks fans have been put through the absolute ringer (oops slipped one more in). They are a special case when it comes to managing expectations. Regular reality checks are needed after enduring so much turbulence and futility.
However, even the most pessimistic supporter has to be satisfied with where the team stands right now. The Knicks have rebounded nicely from a disappointing 2021-22 campaign and currently reside in the middle of the Eastern Conference with a 30-26 record. Jalen Brunson is doing wonders for the offense and Tom Thibodeau is once again getting solid production from his defense. They have a sturdy floor that should at least get them comfortably into the NBA Play-In Tournament.
That complimentary assessment is obviously devoid of buzz words like “title run” or “parades,” but that is more than fine for a franchise desperate to just string together a couple winning seasons in a row. With that in mind, a big splash was not needed nor expected at the NBA trade deadline. The Knicks added a productive role player in Josh Hart, who SNY firmly believes will make them a better team.
Still, the organization is not shaking all of its bad habits. Just like in past years, there was an opportunity to cut ties with a player, for the team's benefit and his, but New York opted not to pull the trigger. Let's break down the biggest mistake the Knicks made at the 2023 trade deadline.
On @Honda SportsNite, @IanBegley & @CPTheFanchise join @JSB_TV to discuss the Knicks' trade for Josh Hart and the latest on if the Knicks will make more moves ahead of Thursday's trade deadline https://t.co/p5aj5zHxMj pic.twitter.com/ZKtmxbsZ1H
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 9, 2023
The Knicks should have traded Obi Toppin
There are certain young players who just cannot climb into the rotation. James Wiseman is one example. The Golden State Warriors center was dealt to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday and will now be given an opportunity to adapt to a team that is on his developmental timetable. The Knicks had their own players in urgent need of a fresh start in Cam Reddish and Obi Toppin.
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Reddish was granted his reprieve via the Hart trade, but Toppin was not shown the same mercy despite being involved in talks, according to SNY's Ian Begley.
The Toppin experiment has been an erratic one from the start. The 2020 AP National Player of the Year was considered to be quite a bargain at No. 8 but did not fill the team's biggest holes, particularity at point guard. 2023 NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton was snagged off the board four picks later. It was unquestionably a powerful moment, though. Toppin, a Brooklyn native, was flooded with tears of joy.
Julius Randle had nearly averaged a double-double the season before, so it was a sub-optimal landing spot for a top-10 draft selection to find himself in. While the potential was evident, Randle's MVP-caliber year left little opportunity to really tap into it. A contract extension for the two-time All-Star was a deafening message that Toppin was doomed from the start.
Obi Toppin won't reach full potential on Knicks
Yet, the power forward out of Dayton noticeably worked hard to improve his game and took advantage of his opportunities in the 2021-22 season. Furthermore, tension rose between the Knicks and Randle at a rapid rate. While he missed time with a nagging quad injury, Toppin electrified the Garden with 30 and 40-point showings. He finished the season with nine points per game on 53 percent shooting. It looked like team president Leon Rose's faith was going to be validated.
Randle remained a Knick, however, and for the better. He has been a vital complement to Brunson. Toppin's minutes and overall production have dipped. His 3-point shooting has risen to 36.5 percent, but a 12-percent decrease from the floor is making it hard for him to earn a decent role. Hart's arrival will only leave less time for Toppin.
The Knicks had a similar issue with Kevin Knox (also a lottery pick) and hung on to him for more than three seasons. Things have since gone a bit better for Knox, who was traded from the Pistons to the Portland Trail Blazers at this year's deadline. He is averaging career-highs in shooting this season (46.9 percent, 37.1 from 3-point). Toppin should have had the same chance to press the reset button.
It has always been a muddled situation for the 24-year-old, and with little room on the roster, there is no point in the Knicks keeping him. This is a crucial juncture of the season when no slots can be wasted. They clearly have outgrown a need for him, and Toppin deserves better.
Not all the kinks can be worked out over night. This is also a pretty minor one for the Knicks. But for Toppin, it is simply a shame.
