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Obi Toppin Scouting: Discuss

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Toppin can't defend the 3.

Offensively, his handle is solid for a 4 but would be exposed on the wing. As I said, he was heavily featured as a roll/pop man at Dayton. There's not much evidence to suggest he can play on the wing on either end.

He reminds me a lot of John Collins, but I'm not sure he'll rebound as well as Collins does.

Just here to point out that Toppin and Collins are both 22, and Collins is putting up bigger numbers in the NBA than Toppin is in the A-10...
 
Just here to point out that Toppin and Collins are both 22, and Collins is putting up bigger numbers in the NBA than Toppin is in the A-10...
I like John Collins a lot. My mention of him was just to compare them as types of players, not caliber.
 
I like John Collins a lot. My mention of him was just to compare them as types of players, not caliber.

I know...I feel like I'm beating a dead horse with the age thing, but I think it really is important. The hyper-athletic forward with shaky ball skills/fundamentals prospect is only interesting to me if he's young. There are plenty of great athletes who end up as bench energy guy types because their skills are just a bit too far behind the curve. That's where I see Toppin tracking, unfortunately.
 
Don't get me wrong, I love Obi Toppin. His age doesn't bother me at all. But the Cavs already have a logjam at PF.

If Toppin is a legit PF, and the Cavs can't trade Love, and Nancy is already the best PF on the roster...if all of that is true, I just don't see how Toppin helps the Cavs.

IMO, in this case, need trumps the best player available. The Cavs need a big PG, not another PF.
 
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I know...I feel like I'm beating a dead horse with the age thing, but I think it really is important. The hyper-athletic forward with shaky ball skills/fundamentals prospect is only interesting to me if he's young. There are plenty of great athletes who end up as bench energy guy types because their skills are just a bit too far behind the curve. That's where I see Toppin tracking, unfortunately.
As I said, I don’t have strong feelings about anyone in this draft.

Maybe Toppin is Carl Landry?
 
As I said, I don’t have strong feelings about anyone in this draft.

Maybe Toppin is Carl Landry?

Possibly! Some players really do make big developmental leaps in their mid-20's. Given that everyone in this draft has a lot of developing left to do, though, I'd rather roll the dice on a younger guy.
 
I have not watched tape. But it appears the Cavs think Nance can play wing, as his handling , shooting passing have much improved this year.. So I am wondering if they see a similar player in Topin.. when you say he is hyper athletic, but cannot defend a wing, there is a very big inconsistency..
 
I have not watched tape. But it appears the Cavs think Nance can play wing, as his handling , shooting passing have much improved this year.. So I am wondering if they see a similar player in Topin.. when you say he is hyper athletic, but cannot defend a wing, there is a very big inconsistency..
If the Cavs think Nance can play the wing, then they're dumber than I ever imagined (and my bar is already pretty low for them).

Toppin is hyper-athletic, but there are a lot of hyper-athletic bigs that can't guard on the wing (or even in the post for that matter). Nothing inconsistent about making that claim.
 
If the Cavs think Nance can play the wing, then they're dumber than I ever imagined (and my bar is already pretty low for them).

Toppin is hyper-athletic, but there are a lot of hyper-athletic bigs that can't guard on the wing (or even in the post for that matter). Nothing inconsistent about making that claim.
They have already played him with Love and TT, productively.. I think that is part of thier thinking.. of course considering the options are Osman and ... Well Osman. Nance might be better by default..
 
They have already played him with Love and TT, productively.. I think that is part of thier thinking.. of course considering the options are Osman and ... Well Osman. Nance might be better by default..
In an EXTREMELY small sample size they have. I wouldn’t count on Nance as a long-term starter at any position, let alone the wing.
 
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In an EXTREMELY small sample size they have. I wouldn’t count on Nance as a long-term starter at any position, let alone the wing.
wow.. I think Nance is a starter.. but understand your take is not crazy..
 
wow.. I think Nance is a starter.. but understand your take is not crazy..
I guess it depends on what you have around him.

Anthony Parker and JJ Hickson have started on 60+ win teams.

I just don't think it's wise to attach yourself to role players before you have any stars.
 
Hard to argue Nance can't guard wings. He has done so pretty well. Offense is where he is less of a wing, but now that he has a 3, he is at least a swing forward.

Where the comparison to Toppin fails is that Toppin does not have Nance's lateral mobility. Nance can stay with a lot of guards, Toppin gets burned on the reg
 
Is Obi a better shooting version of Jabari Parker? About the same size. Neither can defend the perimeter, and though both seem like they should be able to play the 3, they definitely can't.

I like Obi, but from what I've seen at this point I'd rather have Wiseman, Ball, or Edwards. I don't think Obi moves the needle much here unless he suddenly has the ability to play the 3 or unless we suddenly find a suitor for Love that will give us something of value. Certainly can't see either of those things happening anytime soon.

Also, while Nance has the ability to switch onto perimeter players, him guarding a SF for 20+ minutes a game would scare the shit out of me.
 
Hard to argue Nance can't guard wings. He has done so pretty well. Offense is where he is less of a wing, but now that he has a 3, he is at least a swing forward.

Where the comparison to Toppin fails is that Toppin does not have Nance's lateral mobility. Nance can stay with a lot of guards, Toppin gets burned on the reg

He does well on switches, but I think you'd agree that if we're actually trying to win games he should be swinging between 4 and small-ball 5, not playing the wing. The 3 big lineups have been used for like 70 minutes total (albeit with very good results). I wouldn't anticipate it being a long-term recipe for success.

Is Obi a better shooting version of Jabari Parker? About the same size. Neither can defend the perimeter, and though both seem like they should be able to play the 3, they definitely can't.

I like Obi, but from what I've seen at this point I'd rather have Wiseman, Ball, or Edwards. I don't think Obi moves the needle much here unless he suddenly has the ability to play the 3 or unless we suddenly find a suitor for Love that will give us something of value. Certainly can't see either of those things happening anytime soon.

Also, while Nance has the ability to switch onto perimeter players, him guarding a SF for 20+ minutes a game would scare the shit out of me.
I don't really see any similarities between Parker and Toppin besides their size.

Their athletic abilities, skill sets, and style of play are very different.
 
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