The Atlanta Hawks have waived forward Jacob Toppin, ending his stint on a two-way contract following a season-ending shoulder injury that required surgery. The move, while tough news for Toppin, was expected given the circumstances - the 25-year-old tore his labrum during a G League game with the College Park Skyhawks and underwent surgery last week.
Toppin’s deal, like all two-way contracts, was non-guaranteed and didn’t count against the salary cap. With the league’s guarantee deadline looming on January 10 (and the final day to waive non-guaranteed salaries falling on January 7), Atlanta made the call to move on and free up a two-way slot. That leaves the Hawks with both a two-way opening and a standard roster spot to work with - a bit of flexibility as they evaluate potential additions midseason.
Toppin’s NBA minutes have been limited - just 131 total across 31 games in his career, including five appearances for Atlanta this season where he averaged a modest 3.4 minutes per game. But while his role at the NBA level has been small, he’s shown flashes of real potential in the G League.
Before his injury, Toppin was putting together an impressive run with College Park. In five games, he averaged 18.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 blocks per game while playing 31 minutes a night. He shot 48% from the field, 35.7% from three, and 60% from the line - numbers that speak to a well-rounded, high-energy forward who was making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
For now, Toppin’s focus shifts to recovery and rehab, but his G League production suggests there’s still a path forward once he’s healthy. As for Atlanta, they’ll look to use their open roster spots to potentially bring in fresh talent - especially with the two-way market still fluid and only a handful of teams, including the Nets, holding similar roster flexibility.