Did the Hawks Just Find Their Missing Piece in Jacob Toppin?
What if I told you the Atlanta Hawks may have just completed their roster? And no, it wasn’t with a flashy trade or blockbuster signing. It might be Jacob Toppin — yes, Obi’s younger brother — who ends up being the final piece of the puzzle.
Let’s talk about it.
A Sneaky Good Offseason Gets Even Better
This offseason, the Hawks have pulled off one of the slickest on-the-fly rebuilds we’ve seen in recent memory. Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard are all in the mix now. That’s scoring, defense, and elite shooting added to a team that didn’t give up any core pieces or sacrifice cap flexibility.
But two lingering questions remained:
Who backs up Trae Young?
Who fills that backup wing/forward depth spot?
Kobe Bufkin looks like the answer at backup point for now. But that second slot? Jacob Toppin might just be that guy.
Toppin Is Balling Out in Vegas
Let’s get into the numbers: Toppin is averaging 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 57% from the field and nearly 40% from three in Summer League. And he’s doing it within the system. He’s not forcing shots or hijacking the offense. He’s just making winning plays.
Toppin is a 6’8” athletic wing with bounce, hustle, and legit two-way potential. He flies around the court, defends multiple positions, and most importantly — knocks down open looks.
And here’s the kicker: he doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. With Trae Young running the show, that is absolutely critical.
The Two-Way Contract Advantage
Toppin is on a two-way deal. That means the Hawks are getting this level of production for basically nothing. It’s a crazy value. He brings depth behind Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher, both of whom will play big roles this season. And let’s be real — Asa Newell and Mouhamed Gueye have upside, but they’re young. Toppin feels plug-and-play ready.
He’s insurance. And a good one at that.
Why This Matters
Toppin knows the system. He’s earning respect in the locker room. He brings energy every time he hits the floor. And he plays like a guy who knows he’s fighting for his spot. You want that hunger off the bench.
This could be one of the sneakiest smart moves Atlanta has made all offseason.
Your Turn
Should the Hawks convert Jacob Toppin’s two-way into a full NBA deal? Is he the missing bench piece that can elevate this team from good to dangerous?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
