“I love being in New York.” Miles McBride has made that part plain as training camp begins. He has also said he is disappointed with how his extension talks have gone. Both can be true, and the Knicks should not mistake affection for an agreement.
The guard told Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News that he wants to stay after playing through injuries and helping win a championship. He reiterated this week that he wants to keep contributing in New York. I understand why the front office is wary of the second apron, but I would not assume McBride will discount the most important contract of his career just because he likes the city.
A Knicks bargain has an expiration date
McBride is entering the final year of his three-year, $13 million deal. His salary has given New York useful defense, shooting and playoff minutes at a bargain rate. The same production also gives him a reason to seek more security.
He is not a primary scorer, but he can defend at the point of attack and stay on the floor beside higher-usage teammates. New York would have to replace that role if negotiations eventually failed. His best value is in the minutes where Brunson can focus on running the offense and McBride takes the tougher guard matchup.
The team already has other extension questions around Josh Hart. That does not make McBride’s situation identical. He is a younger guard approaching unrestricted free agency, and his price is not likely to sit at its current level forever.
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The next move is about priorities
There is no public holdout or trade request here. McBride is reporting to work and saying he wants to stay. The Knicks can let the season begin without an extension, but that is a choice with a cost: every month of uncertainty moves him closer to the open market.
He has made his preference clear. New York still has to decide what keeping him is worth.
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