New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) reacts during the second quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The New York Knicks bid farewell to one fan favorite this summer in Mitchell Robinson, and another could be on the way out before next season’s trade deadline. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III was asked in a recent mailbag whether Miles McBride will be on the Knicks after the deadline, given his expiring contract, the Knicks’ second-apron crunch, and their guard depth.
“Unless the two sides reach an agreement before the start of the season, it feels like we’re heading toward a departure just based on history,” Edwards wrote. “Leon Rose and the Knicks’ front-office brass usually trade players who they’re far apart in extension talks with — except for Robinson, who we established has a unique skill set that was important to the title run.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected McBride with the No. 36 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and then traded his rights to the Knicks soon after. He didn’t make much of an impact in his first two seasons, averaging 3.0 points and 1.1 assists per game, but was still handed a three-year, $13 million deal in 2023.
Some eyebrows might have been raised at the time, but the Knicks believed in McBride, and he has outperformed that contract. The 25-year-old averaged 12.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game in 2025-26 and helped the franchise end the long 53-year title drought.
McBride, who will earn nearly $4 million in 2026-27, would now understandably be looking for a notable pay raise on his next deal. The guard became extension-eligible in early July, but there is still no word on a new contract.
“As for the Knicks, they can’t pay everyone,” Edwards wrote. “[Karl-Anthony] Towns and Josh Hart have extensions looming. Jalen Brunson’s extension is coming up. Robinson was a casualty of owner James Dolan not wanting to go into the second apron, and McBride could likely be, too, depending on the financial decisions around Towns and Hart.”
Knicks owner James Dolan had made it crystal clear that they won’t be a second-apron team. That almost guaranteed Robinson’s departure. The 28-year-old didn’t want to leave, but eventually signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
Robinson was the longest-tenured Knick, and the title now belongs to McBride. He unfortunately might not hold it for too long.
The Knicks notably handed out new multi-year deals to reserve backcourt options like Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado in free agency. Shamet returned on a four-year, $24 million deal and Alvarado on a three-year, $14.4 million deal.
How much more would the Knicks be willing to spend on McBride, another reserve guard? You’d imagine less than some other teams around the league. McBride is a solid defender who shot 41.3% from three in 2025-26. Players like him are always in demand, which means the Knicks could get something of value for him.
“Ultimately, the Knicks don’t have many routes to try and upgrade the roster,” Edwards wrote. “McBride’s expiring contract is the most obvious, as they have other options to fill his role. Surely, New York would like to keep McBride, but another team could probably pay the guard closer to what he may be looking for.”
This situation is one to keep an eye on, and we can say that about the Knicks in general. They have big decisions to make regarding contract extensions, and it will be interesting to see if they can keep their title-winning core together.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles