Kenneth Faried comes into Nuggets training camp as a backup and he’s not happy about it, as he told Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm and CBSSports.com and other media members. Faried, who can play either power forward or center, strongly suggested that if he doesn’t play enough minutes, then he should be dealt. (Twitter links).
“If this team doesn’t want or respect me enough to play me the minutes, then I understand that. Maybe I go somewhere else,” he said.
Denver upgraded its frontcourt by signing Hawks free agent Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90.5MM contract. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, a finalist for Most Improved Player in the league last season, at center. Wilson Chandler is slotted a small forward.
Faried isn’t surprised by the Nuggets’ thinking, but refuses to view himself as a reserve.
“I’ll just put this out there. I. Am. A. Starter,” he said (Twitter link).
Faried was in and out of the lineup last season when he battled a back injury. He appeared in 61 games, 34 as a starter, while averaging a career-low 9.6 PPG and 7.6 RPG in 21.2 MPG. He came off the bench just 17 times during the first five seasons of his career. There were unspecified teams reportedly interested in Faried when Millsap announced he would join the Nuggets.
Faried, who is averaging 11.9 PPG and 8.5 RPG in his career, is signed through next season. He’ll make $12.9MM this season and $13.76MM next season.
Gary Harris is the team’s starting shooting guard but there will be an open competition at point guard, Moore adds (Twitter link).
Emmanuel Mudiay, the team’s 2015 lottery pick, has been erratic in his first two seasons. He’ll be challenged by second-year man Jamal Murray, with veteran Jameer Nelson presenting a fallback option.
Trade Proposal:
Charlotte Receives: Faried, Mudiay, Beasley
Denver Receives: Marvin Williams, Lamb, Stone, 1st round pick
As a Hornets fan, hard pass, doesn’t fit their roster at all. Hornets have a better PG than Mudiay, at least 2 better centers than overpriced Faried, and Williams is a useful stretch four. As for the first round pick, I can only assume you’re joking.
8949, you mad, bro?
I think he’d work well in Charlotte. Beasley will bring floor spacing, Mudiay is young and controllable and has untapped ability, Faried could provide much more consistent scoring than Marvin at the 4 and has the ability to play the 5.
This is a massively lopsided trade. That would be too much to give up without including the first rounder lol.
What a crybaby.
How about learning a jump shot, or some offensive moves…., something more than just hustling after loose balls and putting them right back up.
There’s nothing against him as a person, the team is going to put out the best five for the good of the team. If you’re the best power forward you’re going to start, simple as that.
I get it, no one wants to be told in the prime of their careers that they have been replaced by someone better. That said, be professional, keep quiet, speak with management about getting out and put in the effort whether you’re a starter or not.
I agree with both of u guys he needs to develop more of a offensive game and he needs to be a gentleman about the situation
Lol @ Denver for wasting 90 million. Let’s hope they reach the 10th seed in the west this year.
Always liked Faried, but he hasn’t added anything offensively, like a midrange jumper, and he hasn’t improved defensively either.
Energy players don’t need consistent mid range jumpers they need a consistent every game motor. Unfortunately he hasn’t played the same since getting his money and the back problem hasn’t helped his case.
Agreed, his style of play isn’t as valuable as it was 3 years ago.
There’s a role for him next to a stretchy 5 somewhere….but probably not more than 25 minutes/game regardless.
That’s true if you can defend, which he can’t do…His early years, he reminded me of Udonis Haslem. Haslem stayed in the league as long as he did b/c of his midrange jumper and ability to defend. Faried has neither
Even in a career worst year, the guy averaged around 10 points and 8 rebounds in just over 21 minutes per game. But he should also be more aware of the change in the game and develop a 3 point shot if he wants to play more. Just the way it is
He is better off playing an efficient 15-20 minutes a game. He doesn’t have the skill set to score effenciently in 30-35 minutes per game. He would be a great player for an contender who needs a guy to com off the bench and just strictly play his role. Faried doesn’t understand that and can potentially be out the league soon.
Many wise comments here but he does seem to play GSW pretty well for a big.
The writing was on the wall for him much ealier in the offseason, after his team started to go out of their way to replace him, kso now seems to be an odd time to get vocal about it.
Just like DWade–and others– he could start on the East’s favorite right away though the only thing he adds to the Cavs is maybe that GSW work. Not saying he’s a GSW-buster, or a regular center, but he wasn’t roadkill either (like most centers are).