The Knicks shocked the NBA world for the second time this offseason last Friday night, trading Julio Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. New York secured a star player at a particularly weak positionin hopes that the deal would do drive them into contentionbut had to sacrifice some important pieces in the process.
While some consider Towns and Randle close to talent, mostly flipped for contractual reasons, The inclusion of DiVincenzo’s New York seemed to seal the deal. His departure means the loss of a full-time starter, one of the best shooters in the league with a 40.1 three-point percentage on 8.7 attempts a night, and their second-leading scorer in the 2024 playoffs at 17.8 points per game.
There are multiple reasons behind the Knicks’ willingness to move so much talent and an entire extra rotation member notwithstanding already facing deep problems. They likely believe the flexibility and shooting provided by Towns outweighs what they gave up, and DiVincenzo was on his way to minutes being cut after a career year, which isn’t the best for morale.
But perhaps one overlooked reason for New York’s comfort in losing DiVincenzo in pursuit of this trade is its faith in the player growing stronger in his absence: Miles McBride.
After two uninspiring seasons bouncing between Westchester and the end of the Knicks bench, McBride was thrust into regular minutes after the AND Anunoby trade last December. New York immediately inked him to an extension, and he proceeded to put together the best stretch of his professional career, finally converting from three and looking for his offense with the same aggressiveness he brought to defense.
After the trade, McBride averaged 10.6 points on 41 percent shooting from three, averaging 24.9 minutes a night over 50 games. He has been instrumental in filling in for rotational players dealt with or injured, thanks to his ability to spread the floor and lock down opposing guards.
Tom ThibodeauMcBride’s confidence grew to the point where he was inserted into the starting lineup late in the regular season after yet another blow to the rotation. He responded with a 29-point outburst in a shorthanded victory over the Golden State Warriors and Steph CurryMcBride was held to 4-of-13 shooting from three.
McBride averaged a whopping 44.5 minutes in those nine straight games he started, putting up 18.9 points on 44.3 percent shooting from three. He rose from bench fodder to invaluable contributor in a matter of months, and this momentum carried into the playoffs.
McBride kicked off his postseason career with a 21-point, 5-of-7 three-point shooting night against the 76ers, and helped put them away with a 13-point Game 4. He finished the postseason averaging 11 points on 36.8 percent shooting. from three with his usual brand of suffocating defense.
Based on the speed and substance of McBride’s ascension, it’s starting to make sense why the Knicks felt they could pass on a DiVincenzo departure. At times last year, McBride played the DiVincenzo three-and-D shooting guard role even better, closing out games in the regular and postseason in place of DiVincenzo.
He’s already the better defender, and has shown the ability to convert 40 percent from three on high volume. Like DiVincenzo, he can beat them off the move — even off the dribble as well.
McBride is nearly four years younger, and will see his minutes increase or at least plateau while DiVincenzo would have had to adjust to seeing the court less. The latter may be the more talented creator on the ball, but maybe not for long.
New York is betting on another big jump from McBride, and after betting on him with the post-trade extension, the late-season starting role and the 2024 minutes, it doesn’t look like a bad bet. This development has to be in his off-the-dribble game, passing and scoring from inside the arc — areas where we’ve seen good and bad flashes.
McBride has decent handles and the ability to pull off a surprising ankle breaker or create space on a step back, but can look uncomfortable under pressure as your traditional point guard brings the ball and starts the offense. With Jalen Brunson taking the majority of those reps, DiVincenzo gone, and a couple of fringe guards fighting for McBride’s minutes, Deuce will need to sharpen this part of his game.
On the pick-and-roll, McBride improved as the season went on in leveraging his bursts of speed and strength to create angles and find opportunities for himself and others. He can finish with his forehand, slam through posts given enough runway, and has a solid foundation for his floater and mid-range pull.
Pairing these with a more refined handle and offensive mindset as the lead bench guard will be instrumental in covering the loss of DiVincenzo, and keeping the Knicks reserves on pace with their starters. McBride could also very well start for this squad if they value his shooting instead of Josh Hart‘s energy in Towns-at-the-five lineups.
Losing guys who have created all-time franchise moments and memories is never easy, especially when they are so crucial to a team’s returning success. But this front office has consistently crafted its latest iteration of the Knicks to be better than the last. And in making this trade, it plans to do the same — even if that depends as much on the players already here than on those coming in.
