The Knicks are wasting no time integrating their newest addition. Just three days after acquiring Jose Alvarado from the Pelicans at the trade deadline, the high-energy guard is expected to be active for New York’s marquee Eastern Conference showdown against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Alvarado, 27, arrives in Manhattan as part of a flurry of deadline moves. The Knicks dealt Dalen Terry-whom they had just picked up in an earlier trade involving Guerschon Yabusele-to land the veteran point guard. Though Alvarado didn’t suit up for Friday’s game, all signs point to him being ready to go for Sunday’s early tip.
This move wasn’t just about adding depth-it was about plugging a hole. The Knicks needed a replacement for Miles “Deuce” McBride, who’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia.
That’s a tough blow. McBride was in the middle of a breakout campaign, averaging 12.9 points and 2.9 assists per game while knocking down 42% of his threes.
He was giving New York steady two-way production off the bench, and his presence had become a key part of the Knicks’ second-unit identity.
In McBride’s absence, the Knicks have tried a mix of Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet to fill the void. While Shamet has caught fire to start February-putting up 14.5 points per game off the bench over his last three-none of those options bring the same balance of defense and consistency that McBride offered.
Enter Alvarado.
He’s not going to stretch the floor like McBride-his three-point shooting is streaky at best-but what he lacks in spacing, he makes up for with defensive intensity. Alvarado has built a reputation as one of the league’s most disruptive on-ball defenders. He’s the kind of player who can change the tempo of a game with pure hustle: diving for loose balls, picking pockets in the backcourt, and pestering opposing guards from the moment they cross half court.
Before the trade, Alvarado was averaging 7.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and nearly a steal per game in 41 appearances with New Orleans. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but his impact often goes beyond the box score.
He brings energy. He brings edge.
And on a Knicks team that thrives on grit and physicality, that could be a seamless fit.
Sunday’s game against Boston isn’t just another regular-season matchup-it’s a measuring stick. And while it remains to be seen how many minutes Alvarado will log right away, his availability adds another layer to a Knicks team that’s been forced to adapt quickly. With McBride sidelined and the rotation in flux, Alvarado’s arrival gives head coach Tom Thibodeau another defensive weapon to deploy-and that could make all the difference down the stretch.