There are a lot of bad and inefficient moves the New York Knicks could make this off-season, but President Leon Rose has been intelligent with his decisions and risk-averse in many ways. Some have floated the idea of trading for a player like Lauri Markkanen or exploring the Phoenix Suns to dismantle their core three.
The Value of Knicks’ Guard Miles McBride
However, the Knicks would have to give up a lot of capital to get it done, and one of the players they should refuse to trade this off-season is young guard Miles McBride. McBride took significant steps in the right direction on both sides of the ball after signing an extremely favorable three-year deal last off-season. McBride will only earn $4.7 million for the 2024–25 season, and his pay will only get cheaper until his final campaign, 2026–27.
Good teams have a few cheap players who produce at a high level, and McBride is only getting better. This past season, the 23-year-old Ohio native averaged 8.3 points and 1.7 assists, shooting .452 from the field and .410 from three-point range. McBride improved his deep-range shooting astronomically, and he made a significant impact during the playoffs when the Knicks needed him to step up.
Over 13 playoff games, McBride averaged 11 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and shot .435 from the field and .368 from downtown. Considering he only started two games and averaged 26.7 minutes, McBride’s impact was significant, and his defensive value showed up time and time again.
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Unless the Knicks are staring at a deal that they simply can’t refuse, and McBride has to be a part of it, his name should be off the board for the most part. If he continues developing and taking steps in the right direction, he may be one of the most valuable players on the roster, given his price tag.