NBA Draft 2020: Obi Toppin’s potential fit with the Cleveland Cavaliers
By Joe Casey
How Toppin would fit in Cleveland
At first glance, Cleveland has a crowded frontcourt with Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Tristan Thompson, and Larry Nance Jr. all, presumably, ahead of Toppin in the rotation. So how does he fit?
Toppin’s fit on the surface does not make much sense but if you take a closer look at the roster he would be the power forward of the future. Looking at the frontcourt, Drummond should accept his player option for next season but it is unclear if his tenure in Cleveland will continue after he plays out the final year of his contract.
Thompson is a free agent and while his market is currently unclear due to the financial impact of the pandemic, it would be surprising to see him back in Cleveland to sit behind Drummond. Kevin Love has shown that he can still play at a high level but at 32, it will be more than likely that he will start to struggle to play over thirty minutes a game as he plays out his massive contract.
In the near future, maybe even as soon as 21-22, Love could make a greater impact coming off the bench in a role that preserves his body and allows him to continue to produce. Finally, Nance is already twenty-seven and has seemingly shown the NBA his ceiling.
He will continue to provide Cleveland an option off the bench but as the team moves out of the Lebron James era (again), they should look to add young talent with a higher ceiling than Nance can provide.
Toppin provides this elevate ceiling while also giving the team an immediate offensive impact through his ability to execute in the pick and roll and space the floor with his outside shooting. These attributes, along with Cleveland’s current frontcourt, give him a clear path to minutes in a place that originally seemed too crowded.
With a young core of Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr., and Darius Garland, adding an explosive power forward who could also work as a small-ball five should be the decision Cleveland makes with the fifth pick.
Even if Toppin does not start in front of Kevin Love during his first year he will gain valuable mentorship to help polish his game for the 21-22 season when the starting role could be more available.