With the #5 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, many names have been linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dayton’s Obi Toppin sticks out as a possible selection in the upcoming draft for the Cleveland Cavaliers for many reasons. Toppin chose Dayton in Ohio for college, won the Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year award, and led his team to a #2 national ranking before the 2019-20 season’s end.
There is a lot to like about Toppin, who had 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this past season.
He has been rumored to be a potential Kevin Love replacement for Cleveland as well, but some issues stick out that may lead Cleveland to pass on the sophomore power forward. Along those lines, we’ll touch on why the Wine and Gold should steer clear of Toppin.
Here are three reasons, in particular, why the Cleveland Cavaliers should avoid drafting Obi Toppin.
We’ll get right into those now.
Reason #1 the Cleveland Cavaliers should avoid drafting Toppin: Positional fit
Toppin spent his two years at Dayton as a high flying, rim running, shot blocking, power forward. Even with some lineup experimentation, the Cavaliers have two solid power forwards. It would be tough to watch Toppin battle Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. for minutes.
Sure, the Cavaliers can move Toppin to the 3, but that begins a stage of development Cleveland may not want to begin. Or perhaps he could play occasionally at the 5 depending on matchups, albeit he’s a natural 4. And while it could seemingly be in preparation for Cleveland looking to potentially deal Love down the road, it’s unclear how much Toppin could contribute early on for a team needing to progress in their rebuild.
Reason #2 the Cleveland Cavaliers should avoid drafting Toppin: Defensive questions
The Cleveland Cavaliers, especially given their Darius Garland-Collin Sexton current backcourt and a limited defender in Love, need to prioritize the defensive end with their fifth overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Names such as Isaac Okoro, Onyeka Okongwu and Devin Vassell are the prospects with high quality defensive capabilities tied to them with Cleveland’s pick it seems.
Cleveland would most likely pass on all three to select Toppin. At 6-foot-9, Toppin is a perfect example of good size not necessarily meaning good defense.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman recently stressed how Toppin is limited in pick-and-roll coverage on the perimeter and in rim protection, and would clearly not help the Cavs defensively. While Toppin is a gifted athlete vertically, with his lateral quickness/feel limitations and factoring in the next level, it’s hard to see him being a real factor as a rotating shot blocker.
He’ll often get pushed around for low-post positioning, and is seemingly a poor help defender. After finishing with the league’s worst defensive rating for the second straight season in 2019-20, Cleveland may want to avoid adding a player that would create more defensive issues.
Reason #3 the Cleveland Cavaliers should avoid drafting Toppin: Age
After a post graduate year, red shirt year, and two years of play, Obi Toppin will be almost 23 when the upcoming season begins. While Toppin is of course talented, his age is a concern. Lottery picks solidify themselves early, both in high school and college. Toppin struggled to do so, leading many to believe his ceiling is lower than that of a one-and-done player.
While the age idea may sound a bit silly on the surface, try and think of the last top five pick that entered the draft at 21/22. Your answer most recently includes Kris Dunn and Thomas Robinson.
When the clock begins on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2020 NBA Draft, Toppin may be off the board.
But if the Dayton product is on the board, hopefully they’ve done their homework on a player with questions on the table and avoid picking Obi Toppin.