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Trade For 'Max Player' Remains Knicks' 'Clear Goal'

The New York Knicks' desire for a star player has not changed.

Jeremy Brener

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The New York Knicks are approaching a tipping point in their current pursuit toward a championship. New York has slowly compiled assets through the draft and free agency that has given the team a roster talented enough to win a playoff series, topping Cleveland for their first such victory since 2013.

Winning a playoff series is a good goal, but it isn't the final destination. Ultimately, the Knicks want a championship, and in order to do that, they need a star to complement the key pieces currently on the roster.

"The Knicks have built toward a clear goal: They want to trade for a star," The Athletic's Fred Katz writes. "They’ve compiled middling salaries because they believe it will help them deal for a max player. They’ve loaded up on as many first-round picks as they can get. They have desirable players still in their early 20s."

Whether or not that star is reigning MVP Joel Embiid or a player like Los Angeles Clippers guard Paul George remains to be seen. All we know now is that the Knicks want, and need, a star to get them further.

Among the "middling salaries" the Knicks are obtaining that could lead them to a star is Evan Fournier, who is set to make just under $19 million this season, and R.J. Barrett, who is about to start a four-year extension worth just over $100 million. Add in young talented players like Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes, along with a couple of future first-round picks, and the Knicks would have a compelling package to offer if a star that intrigues them seeks a trade.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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