Obi Toppin: Prospect Scouting: 2020 NBA Draft

Obi Toppin has burst onto the national scene with his great play at Dayton this year. Toppin is a versatile big with the ability to play inside and out. Toppin has great explosiveness and athleticism and could be the new prototype SF/PF. Toppin is probably one of the safest choices in the draft, and be could become a great scorer.

Strengths

Toppin is a 6-9 PF weighing 220 pounds. Toppin is an all-around player. He has a great jumpshot for a big. He uses the pick and roll to his advantage, cutting down the lane for easy layups using his big frame. He uses his shooting strengths in the pick and pop action, like a Dirk Nowitzki.

Toppin uses his great shooting ability to score off the dribble. He can score off the dribble, weather it is driving down the lane, or pulling up for a mid-range jumper. He can make tough moving shots for somebody at his size, a tool that will help him a lot in the NBA.

Toppin is a pretty good passer, and if he becomes like a Bam Adebayo in the post, making great passes for easy baskets.

Toppin can use his big frame to guard down low, but he can struggle on the perimeter.

Weaknesses

Toppin can be a little passive and pass up his sweet jumpshot. This is something he can’t do in the NBA, because his jumper makes him an offense weapon.

Toppin is not an elite dribbler, and will likely not be getting isolation’s from the top of the key and trying to create his own shot. Toppin is better using a few dribble to get his shot.

Toppin is not a great rebounder, and will need to become one as he will guarding physical 4’s and 5’s in the NBA.

Toppin is a not a defensive force down low, and is not a great shot blocker, although he has all the tools to become a great one.

As I said earlier, Toppin will not be guarding quicker forwards because of his lack for quickness. If Toppin struggles to rebound, then he will be a liability on defense.

Comparisons
Amar’e Stoudemire
More Offensive/Bigger Draymond Green
John Collins
Less Smooth Tobias Harris

Where Will Toppin Go?

Toppin is projected to go a lot of places in the draft, all in the lottery. One place he is projected to go is at pick 3, projected to go to the Hawks. The Hawks have a plethora of young wings, with Deandre Hunter, Cam Reddish and John Collins. All of these guys are good, and Toppin would have to fight for minutes and would not grow as much as he could. I doubt the Hawks would want a 4th young wing.

Another place Toppin could go is at pick 5, projected to go to the 5 to the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are in desperate need of a PF, and Toppin would fit their roll. They already have guys like D’Angelo Russell and Karl Anthony-Towns, so Toppin would be a 3rd option on this team. Toppin and Towns are great shooters at the big position, and imagine if KAT and Toppin were stretching the D with their great shooting ability. And, Towns and Toppin would be a great combo down low in the post. If Toppin can become a better defender, then the T-Wolves team would go to the next level. This is the ideal place for Toppin.

Other places have Toppin later in the lottery. One place has him at pick 8, projected to go to the Hornets. The Hornets already have PJ Washington and Miles Bridges, and they are in dire need of a center. Just like in Atlanta, Toppin would not get as many minutes and he would grow much.

The final place has Toppin at pick 11, projected to go to the Spurs. The Spurs have an aging Aldridge, and he will probably be gone in a few years, same with DeMar DeRozan. After these two are gone, they have lots of young talent in Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Derrick White and Keldon Johnson. With Toppin, they would have most of their positions filled. If Popovich is still at coach for the next 5-8 years, he could develop Toppin really well. The Spurs are another ideal place for Toppin.

My Prediction

Toppin is an all around prospect, with all the tools to become a great player in the league. Toppin will be well sought after in the lottery, with teams like the Timberwolves and the Spurs in desperate need of somebody like Toppin. Toppin could become the next great forward in the NBA.

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Prospect Scouting, please leave a comment on where you think Obi Toppin will end up in the draft, and which other players I should break down.