Miles McBride may leave Knicks despite

Miles McBride arrived in New York as the 36th pick in the 2021 draft. He was a short-ish, square-jawed defender with a shaky jump shot. Tom Thibodeau valued his defensive effort despite the inconsistent three-ball. McBride worked to rebuild his jumper with Westchester and in the gym. His three-point shooting rose from 25% on 1.7 attempts per game as a rookie to 41% on 6.6 attempts during the championship season. His playing time increased from nine minutes per game to 26 minutes. Although still primarily a reserve, he earned more trust.

When RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were traded to the Raptors on December 30, 2023, Leon Rose moved to secure McBride. The former West Virginia Mountaineer, then 23, agreed to a three-year, $13 million fully guaranteed contract extension. The deal was front-loaded and began the following season, running through 2026-27 with decreasing annual salaries.

McBride significantly outperformed the contract. He stepped into a larger rotation role, improved his efficiency, and contributed as a two-way guard. He posted career highs in points, minutes, and assists. He became a reliable sparkplug off the bench and an occasional starter, with 43 starts so far. His contract gave the Knicks roster flexibility under the salary-cap and apron restrictions. Recent estimates place his market value at $10 million to $12 million per year, if not higher. His actual cap hits were approximately $4.7 million in 2024-25, $4.3 million in 2025-26, and less than $4 million in 2026-27.

McBride played through lingering pain after February hernia surgery that sidelined him for roughly two months. He described the sensation as "like someone stabbing your groin, hip and ab at the same time," yet still played anyway.

Stefan Bondy reports in the New York Post that McBride, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart are eligible for extensions and remain unsigned. McBride's situation is the most eyebrow-raising of the three. He did not sign before the August 11 soft deadline, after which an extension would prevent the Knicks from trading him during the season. Bondy considers a new deal unlikely and highlights McBride as perhaps the Knicks' best expendable trade asset.

The Knicks have more guards than available minutes. They acquired Andre Drummond to back up Towns, but Drummond is on the other side of 30 with considerable mileage. If New York needs another center or a different rotation player, they have limited ways to make a meaningful midseason move. Trading McBride may provide the cleanest path.

With Mitchell Robinson gone, McBride is the longest-tenured Knick. He is also among the few remaining players whom the organization drafted and developed. Player development creates value, and the best proof is when another team craves what you produced. Potential suitors include the Hornets, Grizzlies, Clippers, Nets, and Suns. If none needs a big man the Knicks want, Leon Rose can rope in a third team that does.

Nobody in the P&T bullpen wants to see Deuce go. He fits the exact profile of a player we love: gritty, team-first, defensively minded, willing to play through pain, and committed to improving year after year. Ideally, that kind of player remains a Knick for life, followed by a chair at MSG Network or a front-office position. But who knows what the Knicks' situation at center will be around the midseason trade deadline? If this is Deuce's last ride, let's appreciate it.