Deuce McBride’s Bleacher Report Ranking Arrives At The Worst Possible Time For The Knicks
Deuce McBride has landed at fifth on Bleacher Report’s most underrated players list, a recognition that arrives at exactly the wrong time for any team hoping to quietly acquire him. The New York Knicks guard is heading into the final year of a contract worth $3.9 million, making him arguably the most dangerous kind of trade asset: impactful, cheap, and expiring. The timing is notable given the Knicks just won their first NBA championship in 53 years, with McBride a key rotation piece throughout the run.
What The Bleacher Report Ranking Actually Says
Zach Buckley at Bleacher Report placed McBride behind Ty Jerome, Ryan Rollins, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Neemias Queta in the ranking. Buckley noted that in four of his five NBA seasons, McBride has posted a better than plus-two net differential. Over the past two seasons, the Knicks have been 5.4 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor than without.
Buckley framed it directly: McBride is a scrappy defender, yes, but he is considerably more than that. He called the 5.4-point swing an enormous number, the kind of impact more typical of a rotation anchor on a championship-level roster.
The Contract Situation Creates Real Leverage
McBride, 25, entered the league as the 36th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of West Virginia. He spent his first seasons building minutes gradually before developing into a genuine contributor. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 12.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 41.3 percent from three.
His $3.9 million salary for 2026-27 represents a strong value-to-production setup for the Knicks, and that gap between cost and output is exactly what boosts his trade intrigue. Teams looking to add impact without disrupting their salary structure will keep circling back to that number, especially after watching him perform on a championship stage.
Trade Probability And What The Knicks Face In 2026-27
This is not a situation where the Knicks are looking to move him. It is a situation where his profile forces a decision they cannot defer for long. New York can either extend him at a market rate well above $3.9 million, or use the contract as a piece in a star acquisition before he reaches unrestricted free agency.
Plug-and-play two-way guards at this price are difficult to find, which is exactly why rival front offices keep circling. Teams hunting for salary-friendly impact guards in a potential blockbuster could add to his trade intrigue, much the way contenders weighed options on Klay Thompson’s trade value as his own deal entered its final phase.
For bettors tracking Knicks futures, his availability in the lineup is a meaningful variable. The 5.4-point per 100 possession swing Buckley cited is not a coincidence. It is a measurable competitive edge that other front offices have clearly noticed.
The 2026-27 trade deadline will be the real test. If the Knicks pursue another high-end scorer and need a young, low-salary impact guard to make the numbers work, McBride’s contract is the obvious lever to pull.
