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3 young players the Orlando Magic could sneakily target

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 07: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets drives to the net as Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic defends during the first quarter at Amway Center on November 07, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 07: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets drives to the net as Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic defends during the first quarter at Amway Center on November 07, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks and Caleb Houstan of the Orlando Magic interact during the fourth quarter. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks and Caleb Houstan of the Orlando Magic interact during the fourth quarter. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

3 young players the Orlando Magic should target

2. Obi Toppin

Now we are having some fun.

Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks is a different kind of candidate to Hyland, in that he is still with the team who drafted him and needs a change of scenery.

In three years with the Knicks, Toppin has only started 11 games, and his stats are pedestrian to put it kindly — 6.3 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game in 14.5 minutes per game. He has never played more than 20 minutes per game in a season and is seemingly constantly lost in the Knicks’ rotation.

Why the Magic enter the conversation at this point, is because it is clear the Knicks have moved in a different direction. One that does not include Toppin as a major contributor to their success.

Toppin has two years left on his current deal after this season (the second a qualifying offer), and will make less than $10 million per year for the remainder of his contract.

Obi Toppin is another big body that the Magic could insert into their rotation, perhaps in the place that Chuma Okeke currently occupies.

He would not set the league alight, at least initially. But it would surely not cost the Magic a whole lot to go out and get him either.

We have seen Mikal Bridges leave the Phoenix Suns for the Brooklyn Nets this season and turn into a star seemingly overnight.

That would not happen with Toppin, but he is the classic buy-low option that a team climbing the standings in the Magic could get for next to nothing. A player with a point to prove to the NBA.