Although the Knicks are reportedly considering a cost-cutting trade in order to keep two of Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews, Ian Begley of SNY.tv doesn’t expect a move to occur before training camp (Twitter link via Knicks Videos).
Begley also doesn’t think Miles McBride will be the player traded if New York does make a deal. The backup guard will earn $4.33MM in 2025/26, followed by $3.96MM in ’26/27.
“I’d be surprised if the Knicks made a move like that ahead of training camp,” Begley said. “I’d assume that they let things play out in training camp/preseason before making decisions on final roster spots. It’s also worth pointing out that they have always held McBride in high regard and haven’t been receptive to any past trades involving the now 25-year-old.”
The Knicks have agreed to sign Brogdon, Shamet and Mathews to non-guaranteed contracts but currently only have enough cap flexibility below the second tax apron to keep one of the three on their regular season roster. That player would fill their 13th standard roster spot, while the 14th needs to be a rookie whose draft rights are controlled by New York.
According to Begley, the tentative plan entering camp is for the Knicks to sign Mohamed Diawara to that 14th spot. The 20-year-old, who played for the Knicks in Summer League and spent last season with Cholet Basket in France’s top basketball league, was selected No. 51 overall in the 2025 draft.
Jake Fischer reported yesterday for The Stein Line that New York considered signing free agent center Thomas Bryant before deciding to prioritize backcourt and wing depth. According to Begley’s sources, Bryant “really impressed” the Knicks during recent open gym workouts in New York.
I don’t know much, but I do know this. If you’re the Knicks, you have to trade Mitch Robinson right now.
He’s going to get hurt, he’s going to let you down and probably not play many games. But he’s a good player so trade him now while you can get something decent back. Thoughts?
As long as he’s healthy for the playoffs, his defense and offensive rebounding are instrumental to their success. Unless IH is coming back, MR isn’t going anywhere.
@Gary – Disagree, on the trade part. Yes, he’s going to get hurt, it happens every few months, sometimes serious, sometimes not. Nevertheless, IMO the essential prerequisite for at least a fair trade (that the guy being traded is more valuable to the acquiring team than the team trading him) is not met. Mitch’s value (to both teams) encompasses his expiring deal and his injury history.
If you can identify a team that would value Mitch more than the NYK do, then I’d rethink my position.
@Gary —— why the need to talk about a player getting hurt. Mitch as a backup to Towns is in the safest place he can be lol. Not worried.
A Mitch trade is coming imo. But that’s down the road. Certainly isn’t going to happen now for cap purposes. Coach Brown has to look at this team. And see the way to handle the Towns D issue. Unless a team comes to Knicks with a great offer. I don’t see any trade coming till after 30 gms or so.
Al, I think his injury history is part of the evaluation. If the guy can’t stay on the floor, that’s part of the equation.
If they are contenders, I believe they should move him for a guy who will play and be on the floor. Just my opinion and that’s how I would run a team.
Plus, it’s a contract year and I don’t think I would re-sign him for the amount other teams may be willing to give him because he plays a position of need (defense, rebounding, Shop blocking.)
Na keep him and see how the team does. Trade him at the dead line. But you have to bring back another center for him. Honestly I think heart gets traded in 2 years also. But yes it is looking like Mitch will get traded. You will need a strong rebounder and defender
With all the guards, I’d argue we could trade McBride. The Heat need guards and it doesn’t look like playing Ware next to Bam maximizes either of their talents. Maybe McBride and Kolek gets it done? Plus some of our meager draft equity?
Brunson/Brogdon
Bridges/Shamet/Clarkson
Anunoby/Hart/Dadiet
Towns/Yabusele/Diawara
Robinson/Ware/Hukporti
Swapping Kolek and McBride for Ware and then keeping Shamet and Brogdon leaves us $60k short of being able to sign Diawara. We could get around that by starting Diawara on a two way, playing the first few games with only 13 standard contracts, then promoting him, similar to how we started last year with Hukporti and (I think) Matt Ryan.
But you will never be able to reach 15 players before the playoffs then?
The last few days of the season they could
Bargzz I like McBride a lot but I don’t think Mia answers that call
Its so so so so limited what the Knicks can actually do now after getting capped
Best bet would be work with Wiz early (after Dec 15th) on something to clear money and give um back their pick next year….ofc they prolly plan on being bottom 8 (and will succeed) but for just a money dump I think there’s a lite ledger deal between the 2 capable. round New Years
..Especially if Wiz get some early season wins under their belt
Yeah, Miami wouldn’t bite. Washington is a natural trade partner, I imagine they’d value Dadiet more highly than most, adding him to their stable of raw Frenchmen. Their pick plus Dadiet could get us… something?
Probably just a money dump trade of some flavor; player X doesnt even have to be in Wiz’s vision, just the draft capital
NBA doesn’t pro-rate like MLB, theres only one bill and it comes last day of the regular season –
IF you just dumped an inj/underperforming vet min player X onto them the league allows you to run 14 days at 13 and you could easily prorate 2 spots then to whoever’s out in the ether or in your 2 way slots from New Years on. I assume one would be an insurance C
Trade for Danny Wolf
Danny Wolf next to Towns works for me lol.
Trade McBride in a salary dump in order to keep a player that isn’t even good enough to have warranted a guaranteed veteran minimum contract-? That alone would make it idiocy. Let alone that McBride wears multiple hats for the NYK under one of the most team friendly contracts in the league. When even Begley realizes something doesn’t make sense, that should be the end of it.
Ida gone Thomas Bryant over Clarkson if I could re do it all
McBride, Kolek, Ariel H, draft rights to Lessort and picks for Donte D and Joe Ingles
First off don’t believe everything you read. The NBA is the worst L when it comes to stories, rumors, facts. Too many of these so called journalists. Make it up as they go along. Especially today with all the click bait phony money out there. They will say literally anything.
Knowing my team and what they need to strengthen their chances at a Finals run. Now is not the time to make a trade. McBride is a better 2way PG than Brogdon right now. Just Thibs didn’t use him that way. So uneducated fans and writers can’t see McBride as a true backup to Brunson. If anyone knows his college game. You know he is better as a lead guard. He is a team guy and did what Thibs needed. To trade now just to open cap room. Is not a smart basketball move. McBride, Clarkson, Kolek all play PG. Shamet is the more versatile out of the three. He shot 36% from three. Which is all that Mathews can do. Landry is a solid 2way player. He was our most consistent bench player last yr. He will be the choice in the end.
Diawara will fit in just cause of the money. He is a lot like Boucher as a player. Needs the offense. But that is who you can compare him to. He is fundamentally sound. And can develop at the end off bench. Diadet and Kolek are the two players. Knicks need to challenge for mins this year. Time for them to step up.
Knicks will get a good look at Brogdon. See if he still got game. I just don’t see the need for him now. I take Landry over him. In season Knicks could pull off a Mitch trade. Then there could be a place for Brogdon or Westbrook if they are still unsigned.
It will be Shamet and Diawara ….
Couldn’t they convert McCullar’s to a standard one and sign Diawara to a two way contract
I’d rather do that. McCullar is much older and should be ready to contribute now.
Fake 2K Blindsider —— come explain the Knicks again……
give me your email clown. I got amazon delivering a calculator …. you can play with it all you like.
Landry and Diawara ……. Posted after Yabusele signing …… Now go back to your planet lol. The seventh planet from the sun ……
“ According to Begley, the tentative plan entering camp is for the Knicks to sign Mohamed Diawara to that 14th spot.”
“ With only one open veteran roster spot available under the salary cap’s second apron, Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet, and Garrison Mathews are competing for a roster spot with the New York Knicks on non-guaranteed, veteran-minimum deals. ”
link to si.com
MitchRob is vital to the success of the Knicks. Their D when he is the anchor down low while sharing court time with almost any combination with Bridges, OG, Hart, and/or Deuce is top 3 in the league. And the effect of being able to have KAT’s offense on the floor while NOT having KAT’s Defensive liabilities providing opponents with a “fast lane” to the hoop is priceless. MitchRob and OG are two of the best defenders in the league at their positions, and Deuce might just be a top 3 on-ball defenders as well. So, I disagree with the premise of trading MitchRob.
2nd that. Mitch is healthy and playing for a new contract. He always brings great energy to the floor and is a clubhouse fixture.
Mike Brown often plays small 5 and while Yabasule is an active defender neither Yabasule or KAT is a true rim protector like Mitch. You can never have enough depth at the 5.
I think Shamet is best addition of vet mins but Knicks could REALLY use a 3PT specialist like Matthews. If they can get him on the team he can be a real asset IMO.
Brogdon arguably best player of vet mins but Knicks need accent players not a core piece who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. I’d rather see Clarkson carve it up and hopefully McBride and/or Kolek make a leap this in play next season.