NEW YORK — The New York Knicks Miles McBride situation is hitting a tipping point as money gets tight across the roster. Unless the two sides reach a deal before the season starts, the Knicks and McBride seem to be heading toward a breakup based on recent team history. Leon Rose and the front office are willing to say goodbye to rotation pieces to remain below the second apron.
Knicks Miles McBride: The Best Bargain Contract in the League
Back in late 2023, New York executed incredible business by locking down the unproven guard on a three-year, $13 million extension. The front office saw his development behind the scenes, securing the former second-round pick at a bargain-basement price while offering him financial security.
Since signing that deal, McBride has completely outplayed his contract. During the 2025-26 campaign, he posted career-high efficiency, averaging 12.0 points on a lethal 41.3% shooting from beyond the arc across 26.3 minutes per game.
Advanced contract metrics reveal just how absurd this bargain has been: while earning a modest $4.3 million salary, his on-court impact generated an estimated model value of $18.0 million—producing a staggering +316% return on investment for the Knicks. As his expiring deal winds down, Miles McBride will rightfully seek a massive raise on the open market that reflects his elite spot-up 3-point shooting and pesky on-ball defense.
Money Limits and a Tiny Backcourt
The hard reality for the Knicks is that they simply cannot pay everyone. Huge paydays for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart are coming up, while superstar point guard Jalen Brunson runs the show. To avoid incurring the harsh penalties of the second apron, Miles McBride might be the next player moved. Mitchell Robinson, who will return to MSG on March 4th, was allowed to walk in free agency this summer for the exact same reason.
To make matters worse, New York has a very small backcourt. The team relies on three core rotation guys who stand 6-foot-2 or shorter:
- Jalen Brunson: The main star and primary ball handler.
- Miles McBride: Playing more like a small 3-and-D wing than a true point guard.
- Jose Alvarado: Bringing non-stop defensive energy and toughness off the bench alongside Jalen Brunson.
With Landry Shamet around and Tyler Kolek waiting in the wings, New York might see its extra guard depth as something they can live without, especially with Alvarado bringing similar spark.
Injury Risks and Finding the Right Trade
Even with his strong play, health remains a big worry for interested teams. The fifth-year guard has a long history of nagging injuries—including hernia surgery that limited him to just 41 games last year—and he has never played more than 68 games in a single season.
Since the team has few ways to upgrade the roster around Jalen Brunson, trading a valuable expiring deal is their best move. While keeping McBride next to Alvarado sounds great for depth, another team will likely offer him way more money than New York can match next summer. Leon Rose would be doing the common sense thing especially if both sides are apart in contract negotiations.
The front office knows time is running out on this Knicks Miles McBride window. Making a move mid-season allows New York to fix other needs instead of losing a great player for nothing in free agency.
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