With DiVincenzo out of the picture, young shooting guard Miles McBride takes on a much bigger role. McBride, who is just 24 years old, is coming off an impressive season that showcased his potential. He played in 68 games last year, averaging 8.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and shooting an impressive .452 from the field and .410 from three-point range.
McBride’s improved shooting and overall development have earned him a bigger role as the Knicks’ primary rotation guard. While he’s not the ball handler Cameron Payne or Tyler Kolek (Kolek is a rookie from Marquette), McBride brings a different skill set to the table that makes him invaluable to the team.
One of McBride’s biggest strengths is his defense. He can compete effectively with most shooting guards and hold his own against guards. His aggressive and smart defensive play has earned him the trust of coach Tom Thibodeau. That defensive reliability is likely a big reason why management felt comfortable moving DiVincenzo into the sensational deal.
While DiVincenzo was known for his shooting, McBride actually had a higher success rate from three-point range last season, albeit on lower volume. If McBride can maintain his shooting efficiency with more opportunities, he could easily outperform DiVincenzo, especially considering the latter’s defensive limitations.