INDIANAPOLIS — On Wednesday, the Indiana Pacers tendered a qualifying offer to 26-year old forward Obi Toppin, which will make him a restricted free agent during the offseason. It’s a natural step for the Pacers and Toppin, who just wrapped up a successful first season together.
The Pacers took Toppin into their cap space last summer, which made it easy to bring him to Indianapolis. They sent the New York Knicks two second-round picks to make it happen, and the hope was that Toppin’s fit in the open floor would make him a natural partner for Tyrese Haliburton and the rest of the up-tempo Pacers.
He was looking forward to a fresh start and got it, and the Brooklyn native was much more than just a transition weapon. His three-point shot developed, and his rebounding was important for the blue and gold at times. The four-year pro averaged 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.3% from deep. All of those numbers are career high marks.
“There’s a lot to like about Obi Toppin. The player, the person, the vibe,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said during the season.
Toppin’s improved shooting and incredible bounce put him in a rare club this season — he was one of only three players to have 100+ dunks and 100+ made threes. The other two were Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, two centers who have inside-out ability for their teams.
For the Pacers, Toppin has that too. He plays above the rim but can reasonably space the floor. On a team that was top-10 in three-point percentage and second in pace, those traits matter. He’s a great fit.
Any discussion about Toppin’s free agency starts there. Indiana’s style of play is unique, and it requires certain types of players to make it all work. Slower processors or unwilling shooters have to excel in other areas to have a big impact for the blue and gold. Thankfully for the Pacers, Toppin is neither.
They should feel good about keeping him, if they are so inclined, as a result. General manager Chad Buchanan discussed Toppin’s free agency outlook at his end-of-season press conference.
“Very happy with the fit. He seems to be happy here too as well,” Buchanan detailed. “Would like to continue the relationship, it’s all part of the business when you get into a contract situation. But, really happy with Obi as a Pacer.”
The qualifying offer sent Toppin’s way to make him a restricted free agent is a one-year, $7.74 million offer. The amount of that deal is pre-determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Technically, it’s a contract offer — Toppin could accept it at any time — but he can still negotiate with the Pacers and other teams as a free agent.
By being a restricted free agent, the blue and gold have the right of first refusal with the 26-year old. Should Toppin agree to a contract with another franchise, Indiana would have a chance to match it and keep the young forward on that agreed to deal. The Pacers can, of course, sort out a new deal with the Dayton product themselves if they are so inclined.
As it stands, the Pacers have to consider the luxury tax for the upcoming season. They are roughly $14.5 million away right now, including a reportedly agreed to deal for forward Pascal Siakam, but that number could change slightly depending on the futures of Kendall Brown (non-guaranteed) and Jalen Smith (player option). If Toppin’s deal approaches $14.5 million, the Pacers will have to think about how to shed money if they want to keep him.
Indiana also has to think about their young core. 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker is growing and in the mix, and he doesn’t have an obvious role on the team in the coming season if Toppin is retained. Having a lot of young talent is good, though, and it’s a problem worth dealing with.
There are reasons, both financially and long-term growth wise, and for the Pacers to consider not keeping Toppin. Letting him walk would, for example, give them the opportunity to use some/all of the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception and bring in a talented external free agent. But is that hypothetical player more talented than Toppin? Are they a better fit?
That’s the hard part to determine, but it’s difficult to find a better fit on the market, especially after Toppin contributed during an Eastern Conference Finals run.
“He’s been beyond everything that we hoped he would be. And then on the court, I thought he really blossomed as the year grew on. We envisioned him being a fit with a team that played fast, and he was exactly that,” Buchanan said of Toppin.
Keeping good players is smart, and the Pacers increased their chances of retaining Toppin by sending him a qualifying offer. Now, he’s a restricted free agent free to negotiate a new deal with Indiana at any time or with other squads on June 30.
Deals can’t be official until July 6. Toppin will spend time between now and then trying to find his next contract.
