Miles McBride’s place with the Knicks has been framed as a money problem, but that only tells part of the story. The second apron looms over everything, and paying McBride beyond this season would almost certainly push New York into it. The assumption has been simple: James Dolan won’t allow that, so McBride has to go.
But the bigger question may come from a different part of the roster entirely.
The Knicks’ center situation has not improved much, if at all, beyond the brief burst Andre Drummond gave them on opening night. Mitchell Robinson remains a major absence, and unless James Wiseman turns into something much more useful than expected, New York is going to need another center if it wants to feel good about its playoff rotation.
That possibility matters because any fix at the five could end up using McBride as the price.
New York’s trade math is tight. The Knicks cannot take back more salary than they send out, and their biggest matching contract outside the starting lineup is Landry Shamet, who makes just under $5.6 million. Jose Alvarado is next at $4.9 million, with McBride sitting just below $4 million.
That means landing a player making more than $8 million or $9 million is difficult even if the Knicks combine salaries. And there are timing issues layered on top of that.
Alvarado cannot be traded until December 15. Shamet is unavailable until January 15.
McBride is one of only three non-starters - along with Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek - who can be moved before December.
Dadiet seems likely to be included in any deal New York makes, but his value is mostly tied to his $3 million salary. By itself, that number does not open many doors, and the Knicks would probably have to attach other assets to make a trade work anyway.
Once you account for how guard-heavy this roster is, McBride starts to look like the only trade-eligible non-starter with meaningful standalone value. If the Knicks go after a center or another upgrade, he is likely to be part of the package. That may not be the smartest path.
McBride’s stock took a hit after opening night. His shot wasn’t falling, and it looked as if Shamet and Alvarado were ahead of him in the rotation.
Then Friday’s loss to Boston flipped the script. McBride’s three-point shooting gave the Knicks a boost, and his defense was hard to miss.
That’s why this can’t just be reduced to cap sheet arithmetic. The Knicks may eventually have to add a big, but moving McBride to do it comes with real risk. Depending on where Karl-Anthony Towns’ next contract lands, and with the salary-cap environment changing, McBride could be cheaper to keep than plenty of people assume.
And that matters because the Knicks do need a center, but it is hard to argue that KAT’s backup matters more to a postseason rotation than McBride does. If Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart goes cold, Deuce at least gives New York a chance to close with something different.
So the decision goes beyond finances. For a team that wants another title now, the real question is whether it can afford to lose McBride and still believe it is better - or even more balanced - without him.
In Other News...
Knicks Learned A Tough Lesson In Mitchell Robinsons First Reunion
The trip to Boston carried a little extra weight for the Knicks, who arrived fresh off their NBA championship celebration and the pregame presentation of rings before facing the Celtics. It was also Mitchell Robinsons first reunion with his old team, this time in a Boston starting role after his Knicks years, adding another layer to a matchup that already had plenty of emotion around it.
Robinson did his part with four points, four rebounds and a block as the Celtics came away with a 107-103 win, a reminder that the margin for error shrinks quickly in a building like that. For the Knicks, it was the kind of night that can still sting even in the middle of a celebration, because the familiar faces and the familiar venue made the loss feel a little more personal. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Bring Back A Familiar Name For A Young Team Need
Westchesters roster shuffle added a familiar guard to the Knicks broader development picture, with the G League affiliate trading its second-round pick in the G League Draft to the Austin Spurs for the rights to Elfrid Payton. For a young group that needs both steadiness and structure, the move gives Westchester an experienced point guard presence while New York continues building out a pipeline meant to support the varsity club as much as the affiliate.
The Knicks also made a pair of other roster moves that fit the same developmental theme, waiving Kevin McCullar Jr. to sign Dalton Knecht to a two-way contract and bringing back Dink Pate. Between the veteran touch in Payton and the upside attached to the younger pieces, Westchester looks built to serve as a useful proving ground, even if the exact rotation picture is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Just Exposed A Knicks Problem Fans Know Too Well
The Knicks opened their season with back-to-back losses to the 76ers and Celtics, and the early concern is less about one bad night than a familiar pattern. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby have each had solid moments, but the offense has been undone at times by careless turnovers and a general lack of urgency that has made it hard to settle into a rhythm.
Mikal Bridges quiet start has only added to the unease, because New York needs more from him if the attack is going to keep pace with top Eastern Conference teams. Early-season slippage can be corrected, but the Knicks already look like a club trying to solve the same problem fans have seen before: enough talent to compete, not enough consistent sharpness to turn that into wins. [Read more 🡒]