When the New York Knicks drafted Miles McBride in the second round, they saw a stout defensive player with potential on offense. Having been selected outside of the first round, McBride is not eligible for a four-year rookie contract, instead signing a three-year deal with a team option in the third season.
The contract includes $2 million at the NBA minimum for first-year players and a team option for the third season. He will earn just $925K this upcoming year, keeping his monetary hit down, which helped the Knicks sign a bevy of free agents, including Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker.
McBride, though, has shown flashes of quality in the team’s first two Summer League games. He struggled in the first outing, but McBride posted 14 points on 71% shooting from the field and 66% shooting from range over 25 minutes on the floor against Indiana. By all accounts, McBride was stellar as a shooter and offered solid defense with quick hands and athleticism.
One of McBride’s bigger flaws is his abilities as a facilitator, picking up only one assist in the win over Indiana. As a primary point guard, he will have to work on his vision on the floor and spreading the ball to the playmakers, despite second-year player Immanuel Quickley focusing as the team’s top scorer and assist-man so far.
The Knicks have so much depth at point guard with Walker, Derrick Rose, Luke Vildoza, and Quickley, that McBride can ease his way into the NBA and transition smoothly. With so many quality mentors and leaders to work off of, his deficiencies can quickly become strengths with the right coaching.
At 20 years old, McBride is known for his toughness and tenacity on defense. That is one good way to get on Tom Thibodeau’s good side.
While McBride has been overshadowed by Quickley thus far, the second-year player is looking to be more of a mentor and leader for some of the younger options, especially for the West Virginia stand out.
“I’ve been around a year,’’ Quickley said. “I’ve been in playoff games. Just continuing to spread my knowledge to the new guys, the young guys. Obi and I are doing a great job understanding we have to help these guys and communicate.’’
In the win against Indiana, Quickley posted 32 points on 50% shooting from the field, including eight assists. The Quickley for point guard narrative lives to see another day, as his floater game was on point, and his vision looked far better after shaking off the rust in the loss to Toronto on Sunday.
This Knicks roster has so much talent to work off of, providing Thibs with multiple variations he can work with to take advantage of specific situations. With several high-octane scores and solid defenders, Thibs has all the necessary tools.
