RealGM

The Pacers have made clear that they intend to re-sign Myles Turner but will not pay the luxury tax. Their current payroll for 25-26 is 165 million. The luxury tax is 187 million. They'll add a 1st round draft pick that will cost a couple mil; they'll need a backup center who will cost a couple mil (re-sign Bryant or Jackson?) and Turner is going to cost like 30 mil.

Which means we need to get rid of one of our veterans. Obi Toppin makes 14 million, and he is the obvious one to go. We're not ditching Nesmith or McConnell, who each make less. Toppin has been great for us, but he's a backup and we can probably start giving his minutes to Jarace Walker next year.

Toppin makes 14 million in 25-26, 15 million in 26-27, and 16 million in 27-28. He's 27 years old and having a great year.

I'm no expert in the CBA, but it seems like we need to find a team that can just take Toppin into cap space so the Pacers don't have to take back any salary, or can take back someone with a very low salary (like a draft pick, or a rookie or a vet minimum). Or a team that can absorb him into a TPE (how do those work?) So let's look at teams that are under the cap enough that they could add him flat out.

Which teams want Toppin? Here are the teams that stand out to me simply by having the cap space. FANS OF THESE TEAMS, PLEASE CHIME IN!

DETROIT: Could definitely use him. Not a huge FA destination, so grabbing a solid rotation piece via salary dumping seems wise for them.

BROOKLYN: They've got all the cap space in the world, but I know they fancy themselves as the big free agent landing spot - would they want to tie up cap space on Toppin? They could sign two big free agents and still take on Toppin. The real issue is not wanting to tie up 2026 cap space, I think.

UTAH: They've got the cap room... but do they have the rotation room? Definitely an interesting option, not like they're likely to be using their cap space to land any big free agents

CHARLOTTE: Seems like a good option - they've got the cap room, they could use the rotation player. He'd fit well, I think... but they already have Bridges and Grant Williams (lol)

ATLANTA: I don't know their situation too well... would they need a Toppin there? I think he'd fit really well but are they already stocked with PFs?

MEMPHIS: I think this would be a good fit, I think he'd be great next to JJJ when they go small

Any I'm missing?

I think if you want a team to take him into cap space/exception you should prepare yourself to provide some incentive. It's not that he's a bad player, but making MLE type money for multiple years and doing the Pacers a favor like this, means you probably have to shell out a pile of 2nds.

Think something like the THJ/Grimes deal. Toppin probably seen as more valuable as a player, but with that extra commitment. Pacers might can get back a rookie year deal a team knows they don't want to pay so they can sell the deal as something other than just paying to dump Toppin. But it would be paying to dump him.

Obi Toppin can fit into teams MLE, which can now be used to absorb salary in trade.

However, like Chuck, I think if Indy wants NO salary back, they may have to pay something small, or at the least, get absolutely nothing of value in return.

I do wonder if Indy’s 1st in this draft could be packaged with Obi in return for a similarly valued 2026 1st. Would help Indy save a little extra salary this year, while getting a pick in the 2026 draft, one in which Indy is currently not holding any picks. If the 2026 1st is completely unprotected (even if it’s likely to be 29th or 30th, Indy reopens the ability to trade any or all of their 1sts.

Just another possibility.

No thanks.

Maybe Obi into BRK cap space w/ a swap of IND FRP for BRK worse FRP + a few IND SRP?

Detroit is the screamingly obvious destination.

Fits in terms of role, salary, skills. We can fit him in without taking back any salary; our team might get too expensive when Ausar's extension kicks in for 2027-28, but there is plenty of time to deal with that issue.

Heck, Toppin is such a great fit in DET I'd throw a SRP Indiana's way so that they feel good about the transaction.

Memphis is going to try to work under the cap to resign JJJ. Already likely trying to dump a PF in Clarke to make extra space, not take another one. The hope likely is to redo JJJ's deal and keep Aldama's cap hold and resign him.

Some team will likely absorb him for little or no incentive but I highly doubt the list of teams willing to do so exceeds more than a few. I don't think the "bad teams" would take him...Nets and Utah. Atlanta makes some sense with some contracts falling off their books but likely see Niang as sufficient in a back up role there. Det is likely the best bet here.

oldncreaky wrote:Detroit is the screamingly obvious destination.

Fits in terms of role, salary, skills. We can fit him in without taking back any salary; our team might get too expensive when Ausar's extension kicks in for 2027-28, but there is plenty of time to deal with that issue.

Heck, Toppin is such a great fit in DET I'd throw a SRP Indiana's way so that they feel good about the transaction.

This was my initial hunch which is why I listed them first out of the gate. Their timeline, needs, salary situation - all of it is a perfect fit for Toppin. And yeah, a draft pick would be great, thanks!

doesn't have to be a team with cap space. any team with an available MLE and enough room under the tax could work. giving up a 2025 first for a 2026 first is definitely possible.

Detroit would be my first call.

But I’d also call Chicago. They have the need and have a TPE, so don’t lose the ability to use their MLE if they choose.

Just assuming they don’t want to fully tank, though I feel they really should.


Sacramento could use an actual four..

OKC for Kenrich Williams ($6,6) ?

Solid two way player on low contract. OKC gets Toppin which helps their size and he'd fit into lineup flawlessly I think.


OKC can send assets perhaps too

I can't imagine the Nets would have any interest in taking on Toppin's multi-year deal, even with incentive from the Pacers. If there's a 3rd team willing to send an expiring for Toppin, then maybe the Nets take some incentive from Indy & the expiring from a 3rd team, with Toppin going to the 3rd team.

Now if the Pacers would entertain dealing someone with more upside, e.g. Mathurin or Walker, then Brooklyn is likely interested.

Brooklyn will either try to swipe a young player with high upside or ask for pick compensation while taking on expiring salary with their monopoly on cap space. Looking at the teams that will try to cut some costs/tax, something like Toppin to Boston, Porzingis & compensation to Brooklyn, and savings to Indy & Boston could make sense. Boston would essentially be stretching Porzingis's salary while receiving a big, useful body for the duration of that stretched contract.

TheNetsFan wrote:Now if the Pacers would entertain dealing someone with more upside, e.g. Mathurin or Walker, then Brooklyn is likely interested.

both are still on rookie contracts so we don't save much by moving them. the bigger contracts are Obi, Nesmith, Nembhard (extenson kicks in next year), and McConnell.

Wizop wrote:

TheNetsFan wrote:Now if the Pacers would entertain dealing someone with more upside, e.g. Mathurin or Walker, then Brooklyn is likely interested.

both are still on rookie contracts so we don't save much by moving them. the bigger contracts are Obi, Nesmith, Nembhard (extenson kicks in next year), and McConnell.

I think maybe he means he will take Toppin if the Pacers attach one of them as incentive?

Someone mentioned in another thread that Indiana needs to dump 4 million to avoid the tax (at least by their calculations)

I doubt either team agrees, but I wonder if JV for Toppin kills two birds with one stone for Pacers. They solve the backup center, shave almost 4 million, and get out of the toppin deal.

Kings add a tougher position to fill, at a slightly higher cost, and then promote Isaac Jones as the backup center.

Texas Chuck wrote:

Wizop wrote:

TheNetsFan wrote:Now if the Pacers would entertain dealing someone with more upside, e.g. Mathurin or Walker, then Brooklyn is likely interested.

both are still on rookie contracts so we don't save much by moving them. the bigger contracts are Obi, Nesmith, Nembhard (extenson kicks in next year), and McConnell.

I think maybe he means he will take Toppin if the Pacers attach one of them as incentive?

Okay, but while I know we will have to lose a player we want to keep, I hope we don't lose two such players.

LightTheBeam wrote:Someone mentioned in another thread that Indiana needs to dump 4 million to avoid the tax (at least by their calculations)

I doubt either team agrees, but I wonder if JV for Toppin kills two birds with one stone for Pacers. They solve the backup center, shave almost 4 million, and get out of the toppin deal.

Kings add a tougher position to fill, at a slightly higher cost, and then promote Isaac Jones as the backup center.

Don’t know how they get an exact number it’s all fluid. But no, that wouldn’t be interesting for Indy. JV just isn’t a fit for how Indy plays centers. Would be much better off just re signing Thomas Bryant while Isaiah Jackson returns to play.

It doesn’t really solve backup center. It doesn’t get us “out of the Toppin deal”, but swaps it for a less desired player at minimal savings that don’t make a huge impact (and if we can’t resign Turner, we definitely don’t want to move Obi).

Realistically, Indy’s at about $20m to the tax before re signing Turner, and with only 10 guys under contract. Dumping Obi to cap space gives us a more realistic $34ish million to sign a pick, sign Turner, and sign two vet minimum 2nd rounders. If we can get Myles at a lower salary (maybe a one year deal since no one has cap, or including a no trade clause), there’s plenty of room to re sign Jackson and Bryant for a year.

TheNetsFan wrote:I can't imagine the Nets would have any interest in taking on Toppin's multi-year deal, even with incentive from the Pacers. If there's a 3rd team willing to send an expiring for Toppin, then maybe the Nets take some incentive from Indy & the expiring from a 3rd team, with Toppin going to the 3rd team.

Now if the Pacers would entertain dealing someone with more upside, e.g. Mathurin or Walker, then Brooklyn is likely interested.

Brooklyn will either try to swipe a young player with high upside or ask for pick compensation while taking on expiring salary with their monopoly on cap space. Looking at the teams that will try to cut some costs/tax, something like Toppin to Boston, Porzingis & compensation to Brooklyn, and savings to Indy & Boston could make sense. Boston would essentially be stretching Porzingis's salary while receiving a big, useful body for the duration of that stretched contract.

Would Brooklyn really be willing to give up a really good 1st or multiple picks for Mathurin or Walker? They’re not going for cap flexibility, as they’re not large enough salaries to really make a huge impact in this summer.

As for the Boston idea, can’t imagine Brooklyn would stretch Porzingis, or that they’d get paid much to take him on. He’s good. They’d realistically look to swap him to a contender with bad salary and with the payment getting split to Boston and Brooklyn in that concept?

Scoot McGroot wrote: there’s plenty of room to re sign Jackson and Bryant for a year.

Or Bryant and Bradley or Bryant and a rookie.

I don't really see him as a good fit in Utah (responding to OP). He's not that young and we already have lots of depth in 6-11+ guys who shoot and score off of cuts, in transition and in pnr, but less from self creation. He'd be arguably the worst of the bunch out of Collins, Lauri, and Filipowski. Brooklyn makes some sense to me, and maybe Philadelpia if they have the MLE?