Would Knicks Promote Jericho Sims If They Trade Obi Toppin?

If the New York Knicks trade Obi Toppin, is his replacement lingering on the roster in the form of Jericho Sims?

New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin has been in progressive trade talks with the Indiana Pacers, first reported by Marc Stein. If a trade happens and the Knicks don't receive a power forward in return ... they're reportedly after Indiana's draft capital ... is Jericho Sims the next man behind Julius Randle?

Sims was the 58th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, literally leaping onto draft boards after recording a class-best 44.5 inch vertical at the draft combine. The 24-year-old only played 15.6 minutes per game in 2022 but displayed his versatility on the defensive end in the paint and occasionally up top, especially when Mitchell Robinson missed time due to injuries.

Sims only shot the ball about twice per game and rarely ventured beyond three feet from the basket, but his 77.6 field goal percentage was the second-best in the league among players who partook in at least 30 games. 

Standing at 6-foot-10, the Slam Dunk Contest participant also plays center, which may be the only reason he doesn't move up on the depth chart. Sims struggled to earn a role in head coach Tom Thibodeau's ironclad nine-man rotation, which opted to stick two big men (Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein).

The only other nonstarter on the roster that fits the power forward job description is Isaiah Roby, a 6-foot-8 free agent on the final day of the regular season. He only played 11 minutes per game, averaging 4.1 points per game with the Spurs before he was released in March. Roby averaged 10.1 points per game the previous year with the Thunder in just over 21 minutes per game.

Sims and Roby are both suitable candidates for the role behind Randle, but they need more time on the floor to show their skills. The former reportedly attracted attention from a divisional rival earlier this offseason, so their fates will be one of the underrated, if not vital, subplots of the road ahead. 

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You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.

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