Restricted free agent forward Jacob Toppin is back under contract with the Knicks, according to the team, which announced today in a press release (Twitter link) that he has been re-signed to a two-way contract.
New York made Toppin a restricted free agent by issuing him a two-way qualifying offer after he finished the 2023/24 season on a two-way deal with the club. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), the 24-year-old simply accepted that qualifying offer.
The younger brother of former Knicks forward Obi Toppin, Jacob signed a two-way contract with the organization last July after going undrafted out of Kentucky. He spent nearly his entire season with New York. He had his contract converted to a 10-day deal in February, then returned on a new two-way contract after those 10 days were up.
Toppin played sparingly at the NBA level, appearing in just nine games for New York, but he was a key contributor for the Westchester Knicks in the G League, averaging 17.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 35.1 minutes per game across 42 Showcase Cup and regular season contests. He registered a shooting line of .455/.323/.781.
Toppin also participated in the 2024 dunk contest, though he was eliminated before the final round.
The Knicks have filled all three of their two-way slots, with Toppin joining Ariel Hukporti and Kevin McCullar.
There are now just two restricted free agents left on the market, and both are Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro (standard) and Emoni Bates (two-way).
What’s up with okoro?
Money mostly likely. He probably wants more than what teams are willing to offer.
Okoro can just pick up his qualifying offer of 11.8 mill. He wants a new deal. Probably not getting it.
Token Toppin
If he can learn to shoot 35% or higher from 3 , from what I’ve seen he’s got the grit grind and athleticism to be a solid 2 way option at least off the bench.
I’m still waiting for Ryan A to come back. Who’s left to take the mid-level from NY?
Toppin is just more depth. Just keep getting better.
Hukporti is the guy we need. Hope he’s playing all the time right now. 22 yrs old. He’s got a big opportunity here in NY. Go for it.
I know it won’t happen but trade Hukporti, German SF they drafted, draft rights to Rokas and Jeffries for a dominate back up C
NYK obviously like (this) Toppin. They actually featured him offensively in the summer league. Still, it’s hard to see him getting real minutes, absent a string of unlikely events. I can’t think of a worse roster for a 24 year old wing without a shot to earn PT. I wondered if the 2 way spot might have been better utilized by warehousing another big guy.