{"id":102168,"date":"2025-08-28T01:50:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T01:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/102168\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T01:50:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T01:50:13","slug":"kings-knicks-swap-young-guards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/102168\/","title":{"rendered":"Kings, Knicks Swap Young Guards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley<\/a> recently highlighted each NBA team\u2019s most valuable trade asset, along with a hypothetical deal built around that player. For the New York Knicks, Buckley identified guard Miles McBride as the centerpiece, and his proposed trade sent McBride and a 2026 first-round pick (top-eight protected, via Washington) to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guard Keon Ellis.<\/p>\n

On the Knicks\u2019 side, the logic makes sense. New York is fully committed to its core after reaching its first conference finals in 25 years, and the front office has been clear that it views this group as championship-caliber. Ellis, in Buckley\u2019s view, could be the type of rotation-ready guard who complements Jalen Brunson more seamlessly than McBride.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, McBride it is, but only if the Knicks feel like they’re getting an upgrade. Ellis probably fits the bill,\u201d Buckley explains. \u201cHe doesn’t provide the same playmaking, but he’s more consistent from three and bigger and more versatile on defense. It’d be easier to get him on the floor with Jalen Brunson, and it’s hard to think of a more helpful skill than supporting the club’s best player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why is there not more talk about Miles McBride being the 5th starter for the Knicks?<\/p>\n

Regular Season Net Rating (Playoff Net Rating):
– Brunson & Robinson: -0.2 (+2.4)
– Brunson & Hart: +1.3 (-2.1)
– Brunson & McBride: +6.9 (+9.0) pic.twitter.com\/pKCOTs9wrV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Marshall Green (@MarshallGreen_) August 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

That\u2019s all well and good, and makes perfect sense from the Knicks\u2019 point of view. From Sacramento\u2019s perspective<\/a>, though, the deal is a much tougher sell. While McBride is a steady two-way player with good point-of-attack defense and a developing offensive game, he does not represent the kind of upgrade that would justify moving Ellis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ellis\u2019 trajectory within the organization mirrors, in some ways, that of Keegan Murray. Both were overlooked initially: Murray by national pundits on draft night, and Ellis as an undrafted free agent. Both have quickly grown into essential pieces<\/a> of the Kings\u2019 long-term foundation and plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By the end of last season, Ellis had not only cracked the rotation but also earned the trust of the coaching staff as a high-level defender and floor spacer. At just 25 years old, his profile as a low-usage, high-impact guard who can not only shoot (43.3% from three last year compared to McBride\u2019s 36.9%) but also defend multiple positions is exactly the type of player that playoff contenders covet.<\/p>\n

Keon Ellis, the king of steals and deflections \ud83d\udc51 pic.twitter.com\/eBiSee5DdN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperKings (@SleeperSacKings) August 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

McBride, by contrast, still projects more as a developmental guard than a difference-making piece. His toughness, defensive energy, and playmaking fit well in New York. Conversely, on a Kings team prioritizing length (Ellis is listed at 6-foot-4, while McBride is 6-foot-1), versatility, and defensive consistency on the perimeter, McBride doesn\u2019t provide an upgrade over what Ellis is already delivering.<\/p>\n

The first-round pick from Washington could be an appealing asset to add to the Kings\u2019 draft capital, but Sacramento has already signaled how highly it values Ellis\u2019 place in its future. Sacramento appears less interested in stockpiling draft assets than in solidifying a young, sustainable core around Murray, Ellis, and center Domantas Sabonis.<\/p>\n

The bottom line is that Ellis\u2019 combination of defensive impact, shooting, and age makes him far too valuable for Sacramento to flip in this type of deal. McBride is a few months younger, but does not represent an overall upgrade on the court. Unless a significantly higher-level player is coming back in return, the Kings are highly unlikely to part ways with Keon Ellis.<\/p>\n