The Indiana Pacers are likely going to give Obi Toppin some more opportunities as a small-ball center, and this should only bode well for his career with the team.
In a recent appearance on the Athletic NBA Daily Podcast, Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote said that she expects the Pacers to give Toppin some more center minutes as the team looks to navigate life without Myles Turner. Furthermore, in doing so, Cooper noted that Indiana played Toppin at center during clutch time in the playoffs, making it likely that they will rely on him a lot to do the same next season.
"They'll likely even play some of Obi at the five. They almost played more clutch minutes in the Eastern Conference [Finals] and [NBA] Finals with Obi at the five rather than Myles, so they have a lot of options," Cooper said.
The Brooklyn native is going to be just one of a plethora of Pacers expected to step up next season in the wake of Turner’s departure and Tyrese Haliburton’s injury. Giving him some more chances to shine as a small-ball center could pay dividends for his career, and it could be exactly what keeps him in Indiana for the long run.
Obi Toppin’s Pacers future is up in the air
Toppin has been a great acquisition for the Pacers since they landed him from the New York Knicks in 2023.
During his first two seasons with the Pacers, the Dayton alum has shown drastic improvements in every area of his game, and he has come up big numerous times. Toppin has become a big part of Indiana’s recent success, and he may be as important as ever as he takes on a bigger role next season. However, he is still not a lock to be a long-time Pacer past this season.
There is a lot to like about Toppin and his fit in Indiana. He brings a lot of energy whenever he steps onto the court, he has improved greatly on both sides of the ball, and his versatility only makes him even more appealing for the Pacers. However, as the Pacers look to continue avoiding having to pay the luxury tax, they may have some tough decisions to make, and it all starts with Toppin.
The 27-year-old has been fantastic in Indiana so far, but his ceiling is not nearly as high as some of the other players on the team. This includes Jarace Walker, who is perhaps at the biggest disadvantage with Toppin’s presence on the team due to his placement on the depth chart.
Furthermore, while Toppin is a great player in Indiana’s system, he is far from irreplaceable. Plus, he is on a very tradable contract, so if the Pacers opt to move him, there will likely be a line of teams looking to add his talents to the mix.
There are reasons for the Pacers to trade Toppin sooner rather than later, but if he can further establish himself as a legitimate small-ball center option, the team may have no choice but to keep him around as they aim to find their long-term center solution.
Next season will be an interesting one for Pacers fans, but amid all the wild narratives to follow, Toppin’s status with the team remains one of the more important ones as he looks to establish himself as a long-term contributor with the team.