Knicks look to move Yabusele; Brunson clarifies post-loss remarks, Shamet gains minutes, McBride undergoes tests
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NEW YORK — The Knicks have contacted the Spurs and Pelicans in an effort to trade reserve forward Guerschon Yabusele, but talks stalled over his $5.7 million player option for 2026-27, league sources told ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
Yabusele, 31, has fallen out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation and is averaging career lows across the board. Because he is widely expected to exercise next season’s option, potential trade partners have been hesitant to absorb the deal.
European clubs monitor Yabusele
Sport5 in Israel reported that Hapoel Tel Aviv is preparing an offer should Yabusele leave the NBA, and several other European teams are also tracking the situation. The French forward could only sign overseas if New York first buys out and waives him, a scenario considered unlikely while the option remains on his contract.
Asked about the overseas rumor after Tuesday’s game, Yabusele said he has not agreed to anything. “I’m a Knicks player at the end of the day,” he told reporters. “Teams are calling, but nothing is signed.”
Brunson says locker-room talk wasn’t a players meeting
Jalen Brunson pushed back on a report that the Knicks held a players-only meeting following a 17-point loss in Dallas on January 19. The All-Star guard told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post that he simply addressed teammates before head coach Mike Brown entered the locker room. “It wasn’t me calling a team meeting,” Brunson said. “I said something before coach walked in. That’s it.”
Shamet repays Brown’s confidence
Landry Shamet, who made the roster out of training camp on a non-guaranteed deal, is carving out a larger role. Brown publicly backed the guard after a November shoulder injury—going so far as to say he would surrender part of his own salary to keep Shamet on the team—and discussed expanding Shamet’s minutes during his coaching interview, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards reported.
McBride still sidelined
Backup guard Miles McBride missed his fifth straight game Wednesday because of lingering left ankle problems. McBride sustained a high ankle sprain in early December, sat eight games, returned for 15, and is now out again for what the club lists as “left ankle injury management.” Recent medical tests showed no structural damage, according to Bondy.
With the trade deadline approaching, Bondy ranks Yabusele as the Knick most likely to be dealt, followed by Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti.
Source: Hoops Rumors
