Just a month ago, in October, the Denver Nuggets and their budding star forward Kenneth Faried came into terms on a four year contract extension - creating the impression that Faried will be a member of Denver basketball for the next few years.But now that the Nuggets are piling up loses early in the season, Faried's future with the organization suddenly looked bleak and reports are indicating that he could be traded. ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz reveals that Denver isn't sold on the power forward and only extended him because their "hand was forced":
Several sources around the league insist the Nuggets' hand was forced with regard to Faried. After the signing of (J.J.) Hickson to a three-year, approximately $16 million contract soon after (GM Tim) Connelly's arrival, the sense was the bouncy big man was insurance against Faried's departure in free agency in 2014. Faried was a fan favorite in Denver, but multiple sources with knowledge of the Nuggets' thinking maintain the team "isn't crazy about him," particularly Shaw. But with Faried's boffo showing last summer with Team USA and a loyal following in Denver, the media-conscious Nuggets caved, adding yet another imperfect 4-man to their lot.
"[Faried] is a helluva player and plays hard, but he isn't well liked [in the organization]," a league source said. "That gets glossed over. He says crazy s-. He thinks he's the guy, and other guys take exception to his contract."
But then again, Faried wasn't really a favorite of head coach Brian Shaw because of his reluctance to stick with the system.
"Before, last year, we'd butt heads because certain philosophies he was going with I didn't want to obey them or abide by them. I wanted to do my own thing and play more minutes. I was frustrated," Faried said as per a report by Pro Basketball Talks. "But as the season went on, it sucked because guys went down, but we had to come together and click in order for us to win the number of games we won last year.
Shaw employs a more systematic and traditional style of playing basketball which is very different to George Karl's high-speed attack. Faried is undersized for his position but can run up and down the floor unlike any other big man in the league which makes him a good fit in Karl's system but a bad fit to Shaw's. If Faried is truly on the trade block, one potential destination could be the Sacramento Kings, who were reportedly in pursuit of Faried if he were to become a restricted free agent in July, prior to him signing his extension according to HNGN.
But aside from the Kings, a lot of teams will surely be interested in acquiring a guy like Faried who gives his best every game through hustle plays.
Per Rant Sports:
No matter when the Nuggets make Faried available, teams will be lining up with trade offers. In the East, teams like the Detroit Pistons, who have young trade assets, or the New York Knicks, who are just looking to get younger, will definitely make an offer. While in the West, playoff contenders like the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets or even the Los Angeles Clippers will make an offer in an attempt to bolster their roster for the rigors of the Western Conference playoffs.
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