Obi Toppin Is Not A Viable Option For The Cleveland Cavaliers
You’re not going to see the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. That’s about as close of a lock as you’ll get in the NBA this upcoming season. That shouldn’t indicate they’ll be bad and as a matter of fact, Cleveland could surprise.
One of the factors that could contribute to a successful and surprising season, the 5th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Although, they need to get the pick right to maintain any momentum. Not just for the upcoming season, but future seasons as well.
It has been said the Cleveland Cavaliers are high on Obi Toppin, the reigning National Player of the Year from Dayton. This isn’t just some flavor of the week prospect. Toppin was a serious baller in college. However, it’s in the best interest of Cavs GM, Koby Altman, to stay away.
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With a lot of uncertainty in the frontcourt for the Cavs, Toppin seems like a slam dunk pick. We don’t know the status of the free agent, Tristan Thompson. Kevin Love is far from the player he was years ago. Andre Drummond is still negotiating his future with the team. Larry Nance Jr., while a key piece, isn’t the player the team thought he’d be. Last but not least, journeyman, Jordan Bell, will more than likely be trade bait as an expiring contract. So, Toppin is a necessity for a team with so many question marks.
Not so fast.
Let’s assume Drummond signs an extension, Love still has 3 more good years left, Tristan stays at least one more season, Nance will get his run, and Bell stays with the team until the trade deadline. Toppin isn’t going to get any game action. Normally, a rookie who sits and learns the NBA isn’t in the worst spot. However, Obi Toppin is already 22 years old. He’s older than the team’s three-headed backcourt trio of Colin Sexton, Darius Garland, and Kevin Porter Jr. To put it bluntly, Toppin doesn’t appear to have a high NBA ceiling. If Toppin were a 19-year old with this kind of game it’s a different story.
We’ve seen these types of dominant collegiate senior bigs enter the NBA before. Who can forget Tyler Hansburough, who like Toppin, is a former national collegiate player of the year? And what about Tyler Zeller? Whom Cleveland obtained via a draft-night trade with Dallas. Two UNC big men that flopped in the NBA.
To hammer that point home, both Tyler’s were top recruits coming out of high school. Toppin wasn’t even a 1-star recruit. Toppin didn’t even get invited to the NBA scouting combine coming out of his junior year.
It’s easy to fall in love with Toppin. He’s the most explosive player in the draft. A lot of his game is finishing at the rim with authority. He can excel in the pick and roll, and like Kevin Love, has shown the ability to step out to the 3-point line. But, there’s a lack of defense. Toppin is also a very poor shot blocker. Not to mention, despite his ability to finish at the rim, he doesn’t have a deep arsenal of post moves. And again, already 22 years of age, what is the ceiling of Obi Toppin?
Think outside the box for a moment. Tristan doesn’t re-sign (which looks more and more likely), Bell gets traded, leaving Drummond as the only true center on the roster. Toppin might be able to handle that position in the NBA. But, even if Love moves to the 5 in an emergency, putting Toppin together with Love on the court kills your defense. Not to mention he’s not skilled enough to play against some of the NBA centers. You can’t play him anywhere but the 4 against 95 percent of the NBA rosters. And even if you do, you’ll take a hit on defense if there is not a defensive stopper paired next to him.
If you’re the Cleveland Cavaliers, looking to find a player that can grow and become the centerpiece of your roster is a main priority. Are you going to spend the 5th pick on a player who has probably reached the peak of his game? The team is better off selecting a younger player to mold and develop. The difference between drafting a 22 -year-old Senior and a 19-year-old Freshman is critical, especially for a Cavs team that might not heavily use the services of Toppin for 1 or 2 years after his rookie season.
As assembled now, Cleveland can win some games with the current roster. The difference between playoffs and lottery won’t hinge on Obi Toppin. No reason to select an older prospect if he’s going to be a useless option for your team for a few years. Like I mentioned before, draft someone young, mold him into the player you want him to be, reap the benefits. Pretty simple philosophy if you ask me.
Image source: Getty Images
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
