Of all the players negatively impacted by Tyrese Haliburton's injury, perhaps nobody on the Indiana Pacers will have it worse than Obi Toppin, who may be in for a rough season.
Toppin greatly benefits from Haliburton's ability to set up his teammates. With his star guard teammate on the shelf for all of next season, it is fair to assume that Toppin will be far less effective, especially in transition.
Recently, Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report explained exactly why he believes Toppin may struggle during his third season with the Pacers.
"A mostly dependent scorer who was assisted on every single one of his made threes during Indiana's run to the Finals, Toppin is going to find things a bit more difficult without Tyrese Haliburton around," Hughes wrote. "Add to that the negative impact Haliburton's absence should have on the Pacers' transition attack, which is also a key to Toppin's effectiveness, and it's easy to see some struggles ahead."
Toppin has been fantastic during his first two seasons in Indiana, and he has established himself as a crucial part of the team's success. However, with Haliburton out for the year, it would not be a surprise if he takes a big step back next season.
Next season is make-or-break for Obi Toppin's Pacers career
Despite all the success he has had since joining the Pacers, Toppin has constantly been named the team's best trade candidate due to his contract. Furthermore, he is directly ahead of Jarace Walker in the depth chart, which is playing a big role in stunting his growth.
The Pacers seem to still want to avoid paying the luxury tax, but they will soon have a big decision to make regarding their financial situation.
Bennedict Mathurin is eligible for a rookie-scale contract extension this summer, but it doesn't look like he is going to get it. Instead, the Pacers are expected to give him an opportunity next season to showcase his value and earn himself a new contract. If he does exactly that, then the team will have no choice but to sign him to a new deal, which could push them into the luxury tax. Because of this, Toppin may be a name to keep an eye on in the trade market.
Toppin provides a lot of value in Indiana and has developed into a solid, well-rounded player. He has stepped up numerous times when the team needed him to, and he has proven that he is a great fit for the Pacers. However, he may inevitably be in line for his final season with the team, especially if he does take a major step back next season.