Obi Toppin's future with the Indiana Pacers is up in the air, but he needs to do whatever he can to ensure he remains with the team because he may not find much success anywhere else.
Ever since getting traded to Indiana in 2023, Toppin has been fantastic. He has developed greatly as an all-around team player and has shown improvements in every area of the game. However, he is still a potential trade candidate as the Pacers look to keep avoiding the luxury tax.
In a recent episode of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie spoke about the Pacers forward and admitted that he does "worry about him" potentially moving on since he is unsure about how impactful he can be on another team.
"It's obviously getting expensive in Indiana, and I do worry about him being one of the casualties there in terms of just price tag, and I wonder about how it looks in a bit of a different situation if he has to move on elsewhere and go somewhere else," Vecenie said about Obi Toppin.
Toppin has been fantastic in his first two seasons with the Pacers, but he is still a name to keep an eye on the rest of the way. Either he will further establish himself as a big-time contributor, or he will become a legitimate trade candidate. In order for him to have better odds of remaining in Indiana for the long haul, he must take on a cheaper contract once he becomes eligible for one, assuming the team hasn't moved him before then.
Next season will be a big one for Obi Toppin
Like a lot of other players in Indiana, Toppin should be in line for an expanded role next season.
Following Tyrese Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure, the Pacers are going to look very different next year and will have an opportunity to experiment with their roster a bit to see what works and what doesn't for the long run.
As it stands, a lot of eyes are going to be on Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Jarace Walker. However, in a way, many fans should monitor Toppin as well.
The Brooklyn native has been a great addition to the Pacers, but he is a potential trade candidate for a reason. He is on a very tradable contract, he is already 27 years old and doesn't have a ton of upside, and perhaps most importantly, he stands directly in Walker's way as he looks to make a name for himself in Indiana.
There is a lot to like about Toppin in Indiana. He provides a great spark whenever he steps onto the court, and he has stepped up numerous times when the Pacers needed him to. Additionally, he has become a good all-around player who can provide at least some value in nearly every area of the game. However, his future with the Pacers is still up in the air, and next season will be a huge opportunity for him to make his stance with the team crystal clear.
Though many are already counting them out, the Pacers are likely going to look to remain competitive next season and make some noise in the East. They have a lot going against them, but if there is one team in the league that can shock the world, it's the Pacers.
As they look to make some magic next season, Indiana will need everybody to step up, and that includes Toppin, who is aiming to prove to the team that he must stick around for the long haul.