A veteran New York Knicks guard could be the likeliest piece to be moved this season, according to an industry insider.
The assessment stems from the Knicks’ offseason remodeling rather than hard, disclosed intel. New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last spring, then parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau. In the offseason, the team brought in two-time Coach of the Year Mike Brown to sharpen the offense and signed free agents Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to bolster the bench.
The Knicks also find themselves riding a wave of health news affecting peers in the conference, with recent playoff Achilles injuries impacting the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks, in particular, stretched and waived Damian Lillard and pivoted to Myles Turner, using cap space created by that move.
Amid the shifts, New York and Cleveland have emerged as the class of the East, with a few recent trades by the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks nudging those teams just behind the Knicks and Cavaliers.
One potential roster tweak could be a trade, as suggested by Sam Amico of HoopsWire. He writes that a current Knicks player could become expendable after the Clarkson addition. The player to watch, he notes, is Miles McBride.
McBride, a 6-foot-1 guard from West Virginia, has been with the Knicks since the 2021-22 rookie season. Last season, he posted a career-best 9.5 points per game while shooting .406 from the field, .369 from three-point range, and .813 from the free-throw line, along with 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 24.9 minutes per game. Clarkson’s versatility could push McBride further down the depth chart, potentially allowing the Knicks to pursue a different path this season.
Clarkson is expected to contribute both on and off the ball and could, in theory, supplant McBride in the rotation depending on how the lineup is deployed.
What it means for Knicks fans: the team continues to pursue a balance of veteran scoring and youthful upside, aiming to sustain success from last season while adding shooting and playmaking off the bench. If a McBride trade does materialize, it would reflect the Knicks’ willingness to reshape a crowded guard group to maximize minutes for Clarkson and the team’s broader new-look offense.
Summary: The Knicks are quietly weighing their guard rotation after adding Clarkson and retooling the offense, with Miles McBride identified as a potential trade candidate. The development signals a broader strategy to optimize depth and shooting while maintaining a competitive edge in a strengthening Eastern Conference.
Additional note: The situation remains speculative, centered on how Clarkson fits into the rotation and what the team values most in the backcourt as the season approaches. If McBride stays, expect him to compete for meaningful minutes; if he goes, the Knicks would likely target a complementary piece that fits their evolving offensive plan.
Overall, the moves suggest a positive, growth-oriented outlook as New York aims to convert regular-season depth into postseason success.