The Denver Nuggets have a good problem on their hands: depth at virtually every position on the basketball court. Unfortunately, depth can also be an issue, especially when you’re trying to find minutes for all of your young talent.
While the Nuggets may love all of their young assets, it may be time to consolidate, and Kenneth Faried is the guy who makes the most sense
For about two years now, Faried’s name has been thrown out in about every trade scenario the Nuggets have been involved in, but nothing has come to pass. Now, with a plethora of young bigs on the squad, the time may finally have come for the Nuggets to ship away the 26-year-old power forward.
Lets be honest, Faried’s best attributes are his rebounding and energy on the court. His shooting needs polishing, and even in today’s small-ball era, he’s often undersized at the four.
For years, though, Faried has been the Nuggets’ answer at power forward, and it’s worked many times. But with Juancho Hernangomez coming to the states this year, and with guys like Darrell Arthur and Joffrey Lauvergne on the bench, the Nuggets are crowded.
I think it is clear that Juancho is the Nuggets’ guy for the future, but is he ready to make a significant impact in his first year stateside? If so, it makes sense to move Faried and open up the minutes for Hernangomez.
Whether you’re a fan of Faried or not, he’s simply not in the Nuggets’ long-term plans. Even if moving him means a few less wins this season, the development of Hernangomez could do wonders for the franchise down the line.
The Nuggets’ future is bright, and Faried is a good player, but right now, fitting him into the lineup is like putting a round peg into a square hole.
