The Knicks are considering sacrificing Miles McBride to sign a shooter from the Mavericks

The New York Knicks face a significant challenge after winning the championship: keeping their key players without compromising their salary cap even more. The renewal of Karl-Anthony Towns and the future of Josh Hart affect the franchise's planning, while Miles McBride could become another victim of the economic restrictions. In this scenario, a trade proposal suggests his departure to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Tarik Biberovic, a forward capable of spacing the floor and with a much more affordable contract.

The future of Miles McBride, influenced by money

McBride has earned an important role with the Knicks thanks to his perimeter defense, intensity, and ability to punish defenses from distance. During the 2025/26 season, he averaged 12 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, with a notable 41.3% success rate from three-point range on 6.6 attempts per game.

These numbers explain why his continuity is of interest to New York. He is not just a rotation player but a profile that provides balance to a team aspiring to repeat its title. His defense against opposing point guards and his outside threat allow Mike Brown to use him in various lineups without needing to alter the offensive system too much.

The problem will arise when it comes time to negotiate his next contract. McBride will earn approximately four million dollars in the 2026/27 season and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027. After establishing himself on a championship rotation, he could aim for a much higher offer than his current salary.

The original article suggests that the player could receive offers close to 15 million dollars annually. This is not a confirmed figure or a concrete offer, but it illustrates the difference between what he currently earns and what he could demand on the market.

Towns and Hart's renewals complicate New York's plans

McBride's situation cannot be understood without considering the rest of the roster. Karl-Anthony Towns will earn 57.1 million dollars this season and has a player option of 61 million for 2027/28. His potential extension, along with Hart’s pending negotiations, forces the Knicks to carefully calculate how much money they can commit long-term.

The franchise also has significant contracts with Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. Maintaining all their starters while renewing rotation players can be complicated under the restrictions of the NBA collective bargaining agreement.

Owner James Dolan has made it a priority to avoid the second apron salary cap, the threshold that activates additional restrictions for teams exceeding it. This requirement reduces the Knicks' maneuvering room and could force them to make tough decisions even after a historic season.

In this context, trading McBride before his contract ends could allow New York to gain something in return for a player at risk of leaving as a free agent. However, it would also mean parting with a reliable defender and a shooter who already understands the demands of competing for a championship.

Tarik Biberovic, a shooter to strengthen the bench

The proposal positions Tarik Biberovic as the main target for the Knicks. The 25-year-old forward stood out last season with Fenerbahçe, averaging 10.7 points and 3.1 rebounds, with a 39.9% success rate from three-point range. His performance in the EuroLeague playoffs was even more impressive: he scored 15.8 points per game and converted 52.9% of his outside shots.

These playoff percentages must be interpreted with caution, as they do not guarantee the same performance against NBA defenders. Still, Biberovic presents an interesting profile for a team that needs players capable of exploiting the spaces created by its stars.

With Brunson and Towns drawing a lot of defensive attention, the forward could receive open shots, attack defensive closures, and move the ball without monopolizing possessions. Additionally, his contract offers an economic advantage: he signed for two seasons and six million dollars, with a three million dollar team option for the 2027/28 season.

The idea for New York would be to trade a player who could demand a significant renewal for one with a lower salary and an additional year of contractual control. The risk is evident: Biberovic still has to prove he can transfer his European effectiveness to the NBA, while McBride has already established his value in the competition.

The trade proposal between the Knicks and Mavericks

The proposed scenario is straightforward: the Knicks would receive Biberovic and a second-round pick from the 2027 Draft from Atlanta, protected between positions 31 and 55. The Mavericks, in turn, would acquire McBride.

The Draft compensation has limited value. The pick would only materialize if it ends up between picks 56 and 60, so it is not a guaranteed second round. The main appeal for New York would therefore be Biberovic's contract and his potential as a shooter.

Moreover, the operation could not be executed immediately. Due to the date he signed his contract, Biberovic would not be tradeable until December 15. This would give both franchises time to assess their needs at the start of the season.

For the Knicks, the operation would make sense if they feel they will not be able to match the offers McBride receives in the free-agent market. However, the limited additional compensation might seem insufficient considering the role of the shooting guard on a championship team.

Why would the Mavericks consider McBride?

Dallas would also have reasons to consider the trade. McBride is an established player capable of defending opposing point guards and providing points without needing too many shots. His 41.3% from three-point range last season would allow him to fit alongside players with more offensive prominence, such as Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

The future of Irving is one of the factors the article uses to justify the Mavericks' interest. The point guard returned to the court during the preseason after a long recovery from his knee injury, but speculation about his contract situation and potential future remains. That does not mean Dallas intends to trade him: the report cited in the article indicates that the franchise has rejected inquiries and is not actively seeking his departure.

McBride could offer immediate depth on the perimeter and become a useful piece if Dallas needs to reorganize its outside rotation. However, there is also a downside: the player would enter the final year of his contract and would have to negotiate a renewal in 2027.

For a franchise looking to develop Flagg, trading Biberovic for a player who could leave a year later would only make sense if Dallas believes it can retain him at a reasonable price. Otherwise, the risk of losing a young shooter for limited compensation would be considerable.

A trade that favors flexibility, but not necessarily for the Knicks

The proposal reflects New York's dilemma: keeping a player who has already proven his usefulness or anticipating a renewal that could be too costly. Biberovic offers an economical alternative and an interesting offensive profile, but would not replace the defense, experience, or reliability that McBride currently brings.

Dallas would also have to evaluate if it needs more depth at point guard and if it is willing to take on the shooting guard's future contract. The protected second-round pick the Knicks would receive adds little value to a trade whose main exchange would be between two players with very different characteristics and contractual situations.

The Knicks would not necessarily improve in the short term with this move, but they could gain salary cap space and avoid losing McBride without receiving anything in return. The question is whether the savings justify the risk of weakening a rotation that just proved it can win the championship.

For now, there is no evidence that both franchises are negotiating this trade. It is a hypothetical proposal that highlights one of the big challenges for the Knicks: finding a way to maintain a championship core without the cost of their renewals forcing them to part with important pieces.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Knicks estudian sacrificar a Miles McBride para fichar a un tirador de los Mavericks