The Knicks have a Miles McBride problem hiding inside what would otherwise be a very good season.
If McBride takes a real step forward, New York gets the kind of guard play every contender wants: more help for Jalen Brunson, more stability in the regular season, and another reliable piece in a rotation that needs everyone pulling weight. But the same breakout that would make McBride so valuable on the floor could also make him harder to keep.
That’s the bind. McBride is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which puts the Knicks on a short clock.
They can extend him, move him before the deadline, or risk watching him walk into the open market. If he plays well, his trade value rises - but so does the price tag attached to him.
For New York, that creates a messy reality. The Knicks would love to get more out of McBride, especially with Brunson carrying a heavy load after what will be the shortest offseason of his career.
A deeper bench, and another guard capable of easing some of that burden, would be a real benefit. Jose Alvarado is mentioned in that same backup-guard conversation, too.
Still, the financial side of this is where things get tricky. The Knicks already appear to be operating very close to the second apron, and the article makes clear they don’t seem eager to push payroll much further. If McBride pops next season and asks for more money, New York could end up priced out.
That leaves the Knicks with an uncomfortable choice. A strong season from McBride would be a win in the short term and a boost to his trade value, but it could also force the team’s hand. Either trade him by the deadline or potentially lose him for nothing next summer.
So yes, the Knicks should want McBride to thrive. They just may not love where that success could leave them.
In Other News...
Knicks Finally Have A Real Answer To Their Backup Center Problem
The Knicks addressed one of their quieter but more persistent roster needs by bringing in Andre Drummond on a one-year contract, giving the second unit a true backup center with a defined job. New York is counting on his size and physicality to help on the glass and around the rim, while also giving the starters a chance to breathe without the team losing its defensive shape when the rotation turns over.
What stands out about the move is how clearly it fits the Knicks broader approach. Rather than trying to replace every departing frontcourt piece with a like-for-like answer, the front office is leaning into role clarity and lineup fit, and Drummond fits that mold as a low-usage interior presence. For a team that wants stability behind its main group, he looks like the sort of specialist who can settle a problem spot without asking for more than his lane. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks May Be Running Out Of Time On A Roster Option
The Knicks search for depth in the middle has taken on a little more urgency with Jeremy Sochan still sitting on the board as a potential third-string center option. New York has not re-signed him yet, and that linger can matter this time of year when teams are filling out the edges of a roster and trying to protect themselves against losing a useful piece before camp or the next wave of moves.
Minnesotas reported interest adds another layer of pressure for New York, because Sochan is the kind of young defender who can draw attention even if his offensive game remains limited. For the Knicks, the decision is less about splash and more about timing, and the longer they wait, the more they risk watching a practical roster fit become someone elses answer. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks May Have To Sacrifice A Trusted Rotation Piece Next
The Knicks may be close to the point where the big offseason swings are done, but there is still one roster question lingering in the background. Deuce McBride has become a trusted rotation piece because of what he brings on the defensive end, and his value is tied to the way he fits into a bench group that needs reliable guard play and toughness every night.
Even so, his name keeps surfacing in the kinds of trade talks that come up when a team starts looking for ways to cover another hole, including the backup center spot. There is no official move or confirmed deal here, only the possibility that New York could be forced to weigh depth against fit again, and McBrides role makes him one of the more interesting names to watch if the front office keeps looking for a final tweak. [Read more 🡒]