The New York Knicks are gearing up to defend their championship victory with a roster that didn't see too many changes over the summer. While they lost a notable reserve in Mitchell Robinson, their core group will be back at the start of the 2026-2027 NBA season.
Will they all be on board past early February? Well, it's the NBA after all, and it's logical to think that won't be the case. In the event a key Knicks player gets moved, The Athletic's James Edwards currently thinks that Deuce McBride could be on his way out, depending on how future contract negotiations go.
He's heading into the final year of his three-year deal, making just $3.9 million. While McBride is still a bench player for New York, he's valuable enough to earn a pay bump. The Knicks might not be able to afford it, and cutting ties with him for a return is better than letting him walk for nothing.
Should the Sixers keep an eye on McBride?
If you look at the current state of the 76ers, the backcourt doesn't seem like a concern. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are the sure starters, while Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philon Jr. would be the current combination coming off the bench.
Simons is widely regarded as a steal for the Sixers, as he averaged 14.3 points per game off the bench over stints with the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls last year. He has 444 games under his belt, with 218 of them being starts.
Labaron Philon is a high-upside rookie who still has a lot to prove. While the 76ers are banking on the idea that Philon will be able to do what Jared McCain and VJ Edgecombe did over the past two seasons--earning a steady role early on--that's not a guarantee. And the idea that Philon might be unplayable on a contending team might have the Sixers thinking about backup ball-handler upgrades.
McBride has been an intriguing name for teams like the Sixers over the past couple of seasons. He's a steady contributor on a championship-caliber team who hasn't come at a high cost for the Knicks. On last year's roster, McBride might've been a top-tier target for Philadelphia, but that might not be the case these days.
The supposed problem for the Sixers will be an advantage
Even if Philon doesn't show that he's ready, and Simons doesn't impress Nick Nurse as a backup ball-handler, the Sixers can take advantage of what many have pointed out as a potential issue: there are plenty of players on the Sixers who need the ball in their hands.
LeBron James and Jaylen Brown are going to get their ball-handling opportunities beyond Maxey, and it's not always going to be with the starting five. Come playoff time, when the rotation shrinks, you can bet that the Sixers are going to lean on those guys to be their top playmakers, taking pressure off of guys like Philon and Simons.
Unless the Sixers view McBride as a player with a higher ceiling than Simons, even in the short term, the Knicks guard no longer seems like a must-target player for Philadelphia. Still, he'll be a name to watch as he's been a key bench contributor for New York over the years. What they do with McBride could have a notable impact on the Eastern Conference race.
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