Jacob

Toppin

Toppin signed a two-way deal with Atlanta on March 4 but has yet to appear in an NBA game for them. This calf injury only guarantees that his debut for the Hawks will continue to be delayed for another game.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, Toppin will be available to play in double-digit games despite hitting his 50-game limit with the Knicks prior to being waived on Sunday. Toppin may be able to make a few appearances with Atlanta, but most of his contributions will likely come for their G-League affiliate.

Per league rules, two-way players can only be active for 50 games during the regular season. Toppin has reached his limit, while Ryan’s was on the horizon. As a result, they’ve been waived, opening up two slots for the Knicks. New York also has an open standard contract slot, with T.J. Warren and Chuma Okeke being two names that beat reporters have mentioned as options to fill that void.

After spending last season with the Knicks on a two-way deal, Toppin will remain with the team on similar terms in 2024-25. Undrafted out of Kentucky, the younger brother of former Knick Obi Toppin appeared in nine NBA games as a rookie. Given how deep New York is at the forward positions, Toppin is unlikely to get the minutes needed to be worthy of consideration in any fantasy leagues.

Washington is one of the most experienced players on the Knicks roster, so his offensive takeover on Saturday was unsurprising. He finished last season on a two-way contract but is currently an unrestricted free agent, so Washington’s performance against the Hornets came at a perfect time. Also fighting for a contract is Jacob Toppin, who finished the loss with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes. Unlike Washington, Toppin is a restricted free agent.

Having begun the season with the Knicks on a two-way deal, Toppin is back under that designation as New York needed to fill a slot before the end of business on Monday. Jacob, the younger brother of former Knick Obi Toppin, has appeared in eight games this season, spending most of his time with the Knicks’ G League affiliate in Westchester.

Toppin, who represented the Knicks in last weekend’s dunk contest in Indianapolis, was initially on a two-way contract. In five appearances with the team this season, he’s averaged 2.6 points and 1.2 rebounds per game but has excelled for the Knicks’ G League affiliate. In 13 starts for the Westchester Knicks, Toppin has averaged 21.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. His signing will not impact fantasy basketball.

Even with the Knicks trading Obi Toppin to the Pacers, a member of the Toppin family will be present when training camp begins in September. Jacob, who was undrafted after four years at Kentucky, has been signed to an Exhibit 10 deal that guarantees him a spot in training camp and $75,000. It was initially believed that he had been signed to a two-way contract. This transaction won’t impact fantasy basketball.