DEUCE MAN WALKING
Miles “Deuce” McBride is a New York Knicks success story. Selected 36th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, McBride averaged just 10 minutes per game over his first two-plus seasons. Then everything changed.
On Dec. 30, 2023, the Knicks traded Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to Toronto for OG Anunoby. Hours later, they signed McBride to a three-year, $13m extension. The trade opened a spot in the rotation, and Deuce flourished.
McBride averaged 8.3 points while shooting 41 percent from three in 2023-24, then increased his scoring to 9.5 points in 24.9 minutes the following season.
Last season, Deuce took another step. He averaged career highs of 12.0 points and 26.3 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from three and emerged as a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate before a core-muscle injury derailed his season just before the NBA Trade Deadline.
McBride underwent sports hernia surgery on Feb. 6 and missed 28 games before returning on March 29. While he never completely regained his early-season form, he still averaged 17.6 minutes over 19 playoff games during the Knicks championship run.
In a perfect world, Deuce signs a lucrative extension to stay in New York after spending the past three seasons as one of the NBA’s biggest bargains. He will make just $3.956m this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
But in today’s NBA, it is all about the aprons.
We’ve already seen the apron cost the Knicks Mitchell Robinson, who left the Knicks this summer to sign a three-year, $47.4m contract with the Boston Celtics. The Knicks replaced him with Andre Drummond on a veteran-minimum deal.
Whether Deuce leaves next summer, or he is traded between now and the February 11, 2027 NBA Trade Deadline, his future is very much in doubt. The Knicks allowed an Aug. 11 soft deadline to pass without extending McBride, preserving their ability to trade him before the NBA Trade Deadline.
Now, do I think James Dolan will eventually cruise past the second apron? Yes, I do. But it will be for a Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns extension. It was never going to be for Mitchell Robinson, and I don’t think it will be for Deuce McBride.
Robinson was a great role player. McBride still is. Two second-round draft picks who became crowd favorites and then NBA champions.
#KnicksIn5 ensures they will be forever Knicks — we’re just going to have to get used to seeing them in opposing uniforms during the next phase of their careers.
DOES DEUCE SURVIVE THE SEASON?
The Knicks’ early-summer attempt to steal Moussa Cisse from the Dallas Mavericks via an offer sheet signaled that they are still looking for frontcourt depth.
There has been speculation that Leon Rose could deal Deuce for a Cisse-type player — cheap, talented, young — but it’s not an easy match because Deuce plays significantly above his pay grade.
My Real Take is that the Knicks will hold on to Deuce to see how the season unfolds. Could he be traded at the deadline? Yes, but I think it’s more likely he gets a chance to make one last playoff run in a Knicks uniform.
DRAFT CHOICE DECISIONS
Deuce isn’t the only Knick whose roster spot is up in the air. While PG Jack Kayil (#39 overall) is already committed to playing in Germany this season, his draft classmate reportedly prefers to begin his pro career in New York.
A recent court ruling would allow F Tyler Nickel (#47 overall) to return to Vanderbilt University to resume his collegiate career and earn NIL money. However, reports say he is leaning toward signing with the Knicks, potentially on a team-friendly, two-way deal.
If that happens, the Knicks will retain the financial flexibility to continue their pursuit of an additional big man.
DEPTH CHART
Let’s conclude this edition of “4 Things” by laying out the depth chart. The defending champions are loaded in the backcourt and have a deep, versatile forward group. But even with Drummond in for Robinson, they still have to make up for the size lost with the departures of Ariel Hukporti and Jeremy Sochan.
Here are the 13 players currently on standard contracts:
PG — Jalen Brunson / Jose Alvarado / Tyler Kolek
SG — Josh Hart / Deuce McBride / Jordan Clarkson
SF — Mikal Bridges / Landry Shamet / Pacome Dadiet
PF — OG Anunoby / Mohamed Diawara
C — Karl-Anthony Towns / Andre Drummond
Keep in mind that NBA rules generally require a minimum of 14 standard contract players, with a maximum of 15. Plus, each team has the ability to have up to three additional players on two-way (NBA/G League) contracts.