2020 NBA Draft: Handing out grades to every team in the lottery

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NBA Draft Obi Toppin (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

8. New York Knicks, Obi Toppin

Grade: C+

Ah yes, the New York Knicks did it. They drafted the guy with countless connections to the Leon Rose, CAA, the city and a whole range of other things. I think they can be aptly named the New York Knepotisms (see what I did there).

When I get around to picking my awards predictions on my podcast, I’m going to pick Obi for Rookie of the Year, simply because he is very good at scoring, he’s in a market that’s hungry for some good news and he’s going to get the opportunity to shine.

Unless the Knicks really fuck it up and prioritize Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis ahead of him (I wouldn’t put it past them).

But when he touches the court, he’ll be in his age-23 season, typically the cut-off age for young players to develop. The last guy to really make an impact on the NBA as an older guy was Malcolm Brogdon who came in as a solid guy (won Rookie of the Year) and is now on his last big contract possibly at age-27.

Those guys aren’t bad, but he’s not leading the franchise to the promise land. But oh well, have some fun Knicks fans, he can dunk well.