After consolidating the No. 27 and 38 picks earlier today, the New York Knicks plan to use the No. 23 pick to move up in the draft.
The Knicks have offered their eighth and 23rd pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers to move to No. 5, according to Kelsey Russo of The Athletic. The Cavaliers, however, are playing hardball to squeeze more value from the Knicks.
The Cavs and Knicks have discussed trading the No. 5 pick for 8 and 23, but the Cavs are holding out for more, sources told @TheAthleticNBA. For reference, the Pelicans and Hawks swapped 4 for 8, 17, and 35, among other pieces, in a draft-day deal last year.
— Kelsey Russo (@kelseyyrusso) November 18, 2020
According to multiple reports, the Knicks are eyeing Dayton’s Obi Toppin, projected to go at No. 5.
The Knicks are the only team outside the top five teams in the lottery who have worked out Toppin. The 22-year old prospect is viewed as the most-ready NBA player in this draft. In his sophomore year, he averaged 20 points on 63 percent shooting and 39 percent from the three-point region, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on his way to becoming the consensus best player of the year in college.
Toppin, a Brooklyn native, played high school basketball in Ossining, a suburb village north of New York. Toppin played for Mt. Zion prep before landing a scholarship from Dayton.
Earlier, the Knicks have sent the 27th, and 38th picks to the Utah Jazz for the 23rd pick and Croatian Ante Tomic.
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