Knicks guard Miles McBride greets fans at the championship parade
Miles McBride is still one of the better bargains on the Knicks. That will not last forever if he gives them another season where he can defend hard, hit open threes, and take playoff minutes without looking out of place.
He is set to make about $3.96 million in 2026-27, then hits unrestricted free agency. For a guard who can play next to a star, pressure the ball, and stay ready without a huge role, that next number could get uncomfortable fast.
McBride averaged 5.6 points in 25 playoff games last season and shot 37.5% from three. The 33.3% overall field-goal mark was not pretty, but the Knicks kept trusting him in a title run. That trust is worth something.
Knicks guard Miles McBride celebrates at the championship ceremony
Miles McBride celebrates at the championship ceremony. Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
The Knicks have a good problem that gets expensive
There is no report that the Knicks are trying to move McBride, and there does not need to be. A cheap rotation guard is exactly the kind of player a contender wants around its stars.
The issue is timing. If McBride improves as a scorer or ends up handling a larger share of the second unit, he will have a much stronger case for a real payday next summer. The Knicks will have to decide whether an extension makes sense before that happens or whether they can live with the risk.
A trade is not the only answer
People tend to jump straight to trade talk whenever a player is on a low number. The Knicks can simply keep a useful guard and try to win again. For them, that would be a perfectly good outcome.
But the league notices cheap guards who defend. McBride has a season to make himself more expensive, and the Knicks have a season to figure out how badly they want to be the club writing the next check.
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