Guerschon Yabusele
Getty
Knicks' Guerschon Yabusele during a game against the Charlotte Hornets in October 2025
The New York Knicks landed a long-coveted backcourt target at the trade deadline — and they did so with unexpected help from a departing player.
Forward Guerschon Yabusele worked with the Knicks to amend his contract, a move that ultimately unlocked a multi-step trade sequence allowing New York to acquire guard Jose Alvarado, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
Begley reported that Yabusele agreed to alter the second year of his contract — a player option — specifically to facilitate a deal with the Chicago Bulls.
“Trade gives [Yabusele] the opportunity to compete and play this season in Chicago and evaluate his options this summer,” Begley wrote.
That adjustment proved pivotal for the Knicks.
How Yabusele’s Contract Change Opened the Door
Jose Alvarado
GettyThe New York Knicks acquired Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline.
On Thursday, New York sent Yabusele to Chicago in exchange for Dalen Terry. The Knicks then immediately rerouted Terry, along with two second-round picks and cash considerations, to the New Orleans Pelicans to acquire Alvarado.
According to Begley, that chain reaction does not happen without Yabusele’s cooperation.
“If Guerschon Yabusele didn’t work with the Knicks to amend his contract and decline the player option, it’s safe to say the trade with Chicago doesn’t happen,” Begley explained. “If that trade doesn’t happen, it would have been more difficult for NYK to land Jose Alvarado.”
The move allowed New York to avoid attaching additional draft compensation simply to offload Yabusele’s deal — a key win for a front office intent on preserving assets.
Yabusele’s Goodbye Message to Knicks Fans
Shortly after the trade was completed, Yabusele posted a heartfelt farewell to New York on X.
“New York,
I imagined our journey differently, but in an athlete’s life, things don’t always go as planned,” Yabusele wrote.
“Still, I’m grateful for every moment wearing this legendary jersey. Thank you to the staff, my teammates, and the fans for the support and energy.
Wishing you all the best moving forward.
Le Bear 🧸🖤”
Yabusele signed a two-year deal worth roughly $12 million last offseason, including a player option for next year. By agreeing to remove that option, he gave the Knicks flexibility while securing a chance to continue his NBA career in Chicago.
Why the Knicks Moved On From Yabusele
Yabusele was the Knicks’ most notable free-agent signing since Donte DiVincenzo, arriving after a career resurgence in Philadelphia and with France’s national team during the 2024 Olympics. New York envisioned him as a physical bench big man who could strengthen a second unit in need of depth.
That fit never materialized.
In 41 games with the Knicks, Yabusele averaged 2.7 points while shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three-point range. He struggled to carve out a role in coach Mike Brown’s pace-and-space system and did not appear in New York’s final three games as trade talks intensified.
In the days leading up to the deadline, a report surfaced that Israeli club Tel Aviv had interest in Yabusele if an NBA resolution could not be found.
“I ain’t closing no door on nothing,” Yabusele told the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy earlier in the week. “I’m a Knicks player at the end of the day. But there’s been teams calling.”
Two days later, he no longer needed to consider a buyout or a move overseas.
Knicks Get Their Guard — and Preserve Flexibility
For the Knicks, the end result was clear: Alvarado, a Brooklyn native and defensive-minded guard they had been monitoring, joins the roster at a critical time after Miles McBride underwent surgery that could keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.
For Yabusele, cooperation led to opportunity — a chance to keep playing in the NBA and, in the process, leave New York with a meaningful parting gift.
Sometimes, the cleanest trades are the ones made possible by quiet collaboration.