While crowded around the mics, Julius Randle also talked about the Obi Toppin trade that sent Randle’s backup to the Indiana Pacers for second-round draft picks in 2028 and 2029. “He was in a tough spot playing behind me”, Randle said. “He was more than just a great teammate, I’m excited to see him thrive out there”.
New York selected Toppin eighth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was chosen to be an eventual replacement for Randle, who was coming off a lackluster first year in New York. The draft selection lit a fire under Julius, who went on to have a career year. After that, Toppin’s fate with the Knicks was doomed.