The Timberwolves roster discussion now centers on Miles McBride’s $3.9 million expiring deal, with the Knicks weighing whether to keep a player who moved from a seldom-used second-round pick to a key rotation piece. He enters 2025-26 on the last year of his current contract, and that places his future inside the team’s cost-cutting math.
McBride and Leon Rose
Growing speculation around McBride has intensified in recent days. Leon Rose could move him on his own if extension talks do not trend in the right direction, or he could attach newly generated draft capital to McBride in a deal for a player making less money and carrying more team control.
That is the practical frame around this story. The Knicks are not simply judging one guard’s value; they are deciding whether his price, role, and contract timeline still fit the roster they want to carry into the next phase of team building.
Knicks cost control
McBride’s path makes the decision harder. He went from a seldom-used second-round pick to a key cog for the champs, but he also struggled in the playoffs. That split is why he can be described both as a fan favorite and as a possible trade casualty.
He was linked to the Knicks ahead of the trade deadline, which gives this speculation more weight than a routine rumor cycle. The numbers around him are also layered: he is a five-year pro, is set to make $3.9 million in 2025-26, and has a $5.6 million team option for 2027-28.
Pelicans targets and roster fit
The trade discussion also points to return value. One possible target is the 6-foot-11 big man who earned 2025 NBA All-Rookie second team honors and was in and out of the Pelicans’ rotation because of the ascensions of Derik Queen and Karlo Matkovic.
Another possible target is the 6-foot-6 forward, an excellent rebounder, an efficient shooter, and a player who can handle both sides of the ball. He carries a $2.6 million team option that will assuredly be picked up, plus a $3 million team option for 2027-28, which gives any acquiring team a cleaner salary path than McBride’s expiring money.
That is the choice in front of the Knicks. Keep a useful guard and risk a more complicated extension scene, or move him for a cheaper, more controllable piece before the contract clock tightens further.
