The Knicks’ championship glow hasn’t dulled, but the roster math around Miles McBride is already putting him on the radar.
According to Mark Stein, rival teams are viewing McBride as a likely trade candidate as the season goes on, with uncertainty hanging over his Knicks future. In the latest edition of The Stein Line, Stein wrote:
“One more important Knicks topic: Rival teams continue to describe McBride as a likely trade candidate as the season unfolds given the uncertainty surrounding his own Knicks future. McBride's $3.9 million salary for 2026-27, given the minimal salary that would take to match, is bound to generate interest from teams between now and the Feb. 11 trade deadline that want to acquire the 26-year-old before he hits free agency next June 30.”
That kind of contract detail is exactly why McBride is drawing attention. His salary is small enough to make him an easy piece to move in the right deal, and that only increases the buzz around him as the Feb. 11 deadline approaches.
McBride also has a case built on production. Last season, he became a key part of the Knicks’ championship climb, averaging 12 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42.3% from the floor in the regular season. His postseason scoring line didn’t jump off the page, but he still delivered when the Knicks needed it, putting up four double-digit scoring games during the Eastern Conference run, including three in victories that mattered most.
New York heads into the 2026-2027 season carrying the momentum of that title and bringing back several important pieces from last year’s team. Even so, if the Knicks go hunting for a major shake-up before the trade deadline, McBride looks like one of the names other teams will keep circling.
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Knicks Roster Battle Is Raising One Tough Question Early
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James Wiseman and Jaden Akins have been among the more noticeable beneficiaries of that approach, with both getting extended chances to show they can help. Wiseman has flashed real efficiency in limited action, and Akins has been one of the quieter surprises so far, but the bigger question still lingers around whether the Knicks may eventually use a trade to create more room and make these preseason performances matter even more. [Read more 🡒]