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3 Knicks Who Won’t Return for the 2024 Season

The New York Knicks are hoping to retain the core of their roster for the 2024 season, but here are a few players that shouldn't expect to return to the Mecca.

By Stephen Lebitsch

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) and guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the fourth quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Alec Burks (18) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson (22) and guard Ben Sheppard (26) during the fourth quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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3. Shake Milton

New York Knicks guard Shake Milton (13) warms up before a game against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks guard Shake Milton (13) warms up before a game against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Knicks signed Shake Milton off the open market after he was released by Detroit in early March. A shooting guard with some experience playing good minutes for playoff teams, the thought was that Milton would bolster the guard spots that were being tested by injuries and demanded to play extra minutes in additional positions. 

In the end, Milton never saw a regular place in the rotation and only appeared in six games this season, most of which were in cleanup minutes for the Knicks. It’s uncertain whether he was a bad fit for the team’s system or didn’t impress in some initial minutes, but the eight-year veteran never saw more than 15 minutes and seven points in any game he took the floor for the orange and blue. 

It didn’t help Milton’s case that the Knicks found the emergence of Miles McBride, who stepped up to become Tom Thibodeau’s dual threat option at both the point and shooting guard spots. McBride earned a career-high 14 starts and jumped his scoring from averaging 3.5 points in 2022 to 8.3 on 45.7% shooting in the 2023 season. 

McBride is set to return with the Villanova guards and battle to be one of the second unit guards that can shoot well from all over the court. If he can keep up his 41% efficiency from behind the arc and continue developing his skills as a defender, the Knicks will have themselves a solid backcourt to lead the way and the focus can be on strengthening the front court and the interior for next season and beyond. 

None of that bodes well for Milton. Expect him to be taking his services to another beleaguered team in the 2024 campaign. 

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