[bt102Participant]

There is this article posted on Bleacher Report on Obi Toppin if you want to see it. However, I wanna get a range, where you take Obi Toppin in the Draft?
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2913808-how-high-will-2020-nba-drafts-most-popular-prospect-climb

To me, considering he’s the same age as some seniors and older than some of them, I really don’t see him as this top 5 talent. He was unbelievable in college, but I don’t think everything is translating, the usage, and I don’t think he’s going to get much better defensively if at all. I’d consider him at #10 considering James Jones likes older, more established players, and Phoenix doesn’t have a good PF at this moment. I’d personally let him fall to Sacramento or New Orleans to take. I know for a sure fact that isn’t happening but I really just don’t see any big improvements coming. I could easily be wrong but those are my views.

[armchairgmParticipant]

To me if you really like him I would take him as high as #1. This draft is pretty wide open at the top and there is not a clear cut guy.

[RUDEBOY-Participant]

i wouldnt be surprised if jordan & charlotte hornets take him at number 3…jordan has a history of selecting big name college players…even though toppin had a solid year, im not sure how his game will translate to the next level…..

i think alot of people r sleeping on patrick williams…..i think he’s better than toppin…..

[bt102Participant]

Long-term I actually agree with you Rudeboy. I literally called him going to Charlotte in like November but at the same time, Toppin is kind of a mix between Miles Bridges and PJ Washington so would they actually take a step back and think about it for minute and go for upside?

Also if Minnesota seriously takes him at #1 then Rosas has to be absolutely certain he will be a star and believes other people see that in him too, which judging by the report, seems likely.

[BothTeamsPlayedHard-Participant]

His age, and relative youth within the sport, is a reflection of a late physical growth spurt. Most people don’t go from 6’2″ as a junior in high school to 6’9″ in college. It is a unique situation that requires context, and an understanding that his learning curve will differ from a guy who had the full AAU travelling, USA youth Basketball playing, scholarship offers at 14 story of many 5 star prospects. And that is ok.

Now, I don’t think he works in Minnesota as parking him at the arc launching threes, as they played under Ryan Saunders, plays to his strengths. To be fair, it is hard to find a projected top 5 pick who fits that profile. Now, with Malik Beasley facing felony gun and drug charges, maybe they are more willing to let him walk and hold their nose at Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball launching bricks nightly, but I am not so sure. I still think Golden State will trade down or out. If they stick, it would be fine. Charlotte seems like a Wiseman spot, but would again be fine. Toppin’s problem then comes if he is still on the board at 4. Chicago could go any number of directions with new leadership, but it would mean they are giving up on or moving someone from the group of Markkanen, Carter, Young, or Gafford. I don’t think they will be inclined to do so at this point in time. Cleveland has $70 million tied up in Love, Drummond, and Nance. Atlanta has Capela tied up at considerable money, and it appears as though they are more likely to extend Collins as opposed to moving him on. Detroit has a lot of money tied up in Blake, and there were reports of them wanting to pay Christian Wood. Like Chicago, New York has a new regime. They could go any number of ways, but they clearly need guards and wings more than big men. It is just the nature of this draft class where I think the teams picking 2 and 3 could take a guy who I likely would not mock to anyone from 4-8 because of where those teams have already invested.

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

Toppin was just a sophomore. #10 to Phoenix is ridiculous! He reminds me of Amare Stoudemire. His career also brings to mind Derrick Williams. That being said he‘ll land with Cleveland, Charlotte, or chicago

[bt102Participant]

If he was the same age as a sophomore then I wouldn’t have him at #10. He’s 22. He’s older than some of the seniors in this draft. Kira Lewis is a sophomore and is 19!! which is younger than some Freshman. Obi was a redshirt sophomore who also got an extra year on him in HS. Because of this, the fact he’s a sophomore actually hurts him in my opinion. Do I think he’s going to be out of the league? No, but there is definitely bust potential there, because his defense is bad. Could he be Amare offensively? Most likely there is that similarity there, but I think it will be harder for him to stay on the court.

Minnesota could work but that team would have no defense. I’d rather them not take him and take a guy that actually plays defense. If they are reaching on someone it should be Okongwu becuase the fit is way better than Toppin in my opinion. Golden State….as a Draymond replacement, could if they think he could get better defensively or just play him at the 5, I actually don’t hate it there. Charlotte just spent the last 2 picks on forwards but I wouldn’t discount that. Chicago…if they don’t value Markannen anymore then maybe…but I think that might be the worst fit possible for him, Cleveland I don’t like either but Love is old so maybe. Atlanta….could if the rumors are true and they don’t believe John Collins is a max player, Detroit…no. By the time Detroit is relevant he would probably at his peak and his contract would be close to up. New York, I could see that working and bringing him in would probably Knicks fans. Washington, heck no. Hachimura was the worst defensively player in the league last year and bringing in Toppin would be a waste of a draft pick. Phoenix would work and that’s most likely his floor.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Apparently reports out there are saying he nailed his interviews and teams love him. Not sure how much value that holds. Other reports are saying in depth scouting shows he is too stiff and doesn’t move his hips so theres bust potential there. I like him with a good structured team.

[ZouldiersParticipant]

He needs to go to a team where his offensive role can be simplified and then hide him on defense. Not sure if there’s a team in the Top 10 that can hide his flaws on defense.

[goddagParticipant]

There is ZERO chance Rosas takes him #1. Because there is zero chance he keeps the number 1 pick. He replaced 80% of the roster at the trade dead line. He will not stand still on draft night, not with the contract of JJ in his hands. And 3 picks in the top 33.

[kobyzParticipant]

he’s a lot like Rui Hachimura with some James Worthy in him

[HitsterParticipant]

Yep the 17th,33rd and JJ’s team option are a very nice trade package to bring a quality 3rd star/good running mate onto the T-Wolves.
With Obi is he seen more as a combo forward or a specialst SF or PF or could he be a smallball C?
I could well see Charlotte having a good look at him and GSW as a win now team would be appealing with his length and athleticism. He’d need to just rebound and pass and would get easy baskets from the big guns.
I don’t see T_wolves taking him so if he doesn’t go 2 or 3, I think he could then slip to 7 or so as the next raft of teams have a fair bit of FC depth or young prospects already in situ.

[ndbigdaveParticipant]

This is a great question because Obi has been the guy I have hated the most as a top pick (and specifically a player I DO NOT want the Bulls to pick).

Guys I would clearly and without a doubt pick over Obi due to simply being a better player, positional value or higher ceiling:

Edwards, Wiseman, Halibuton, Hayes, Demi, Ball (I dont love him, but if he “hits” I get it), Okongwu, Vassell, P. Williams, Terry, Pokusevski, Nesmith, J. Smith – I think I could be convinced on a few other guys too like Kira Lewis, Maxey.

So my answer puts him somewhere in the later teens as an athlete/scorer who is underwhelming as a rebounder and a dumpster fire on defense all while turning 23 midway through his rookie year. Could he play a role on a team? Sure. If you’re in the lottery, especially the early lottery, you need to shoot for stars and organizational changers if you see that kind of potential and I see that with a number of guys before I “settle” for Obi.

[HitsterParticipant]

If he doesn’t go in the top 3, I could see GSW and Hornets taking a good look at him. Then I think he falls to possibly 7 if Cleveland doesn’t take him at 5. But he should certainly goes in the top 10.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Knicks at 8 as their main front court player to come off the bench would be a pretty ideal spot to select him. I’m not sold on Knox, but I can see a Toppin/Randle/Robinson front court rotation.

[JCliff24Participant]

I think he’s going to he a bust. He’s been linked to the Cavs a lot and without a system that allows him to be successful in the pick and roll, he’ll struggle. I think Cleveland is his worst fit. He is also a huge liability defensively. I wouldn’t touch him until that 10-14 range and only to a team with a playmaking PG and an established defense.

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