It seems like everybody is interested in acquiring Kenneth Faried these days.
The athletic forward for the Denver Nuggets has been connected to both the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors in recent trade rumors, and now a pair of Western Conference teams have reportedly joined the sweepstakes.
Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried is also said to be available, with the Thunder and Pelicans among the teams to express an interest, sources told Amico Hoops.
Imagining Faried running alongside Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo in OKC is quite exciting; they're three of the most physically gifted players in the league today who play at full speed all the time. But, adding another player who doesn't excel with his outside shot would make it challenging for head coach Billy Donovan to spread out their minutes so that the floor can be adequately spaced.
Faried would be a major upgrade for a New Orleans team looking to get back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2015-16 campaign. The Pelicans have also been connected to the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Greg Monroe in trade rumors, and Monroe is reportedly open to the idea of playing there.
On the United States' men's basketball team in the 2014 World Cup, Faried and Pelicans star Anthony Davis developed chemistry and became a menacing combo for their opponents, as Oleh Kosel of The Bird Writes notes. Pelicans general manager Dell Demps would love to replicate that spark in the Big Easy.
Given his abilities, Faried's contract is relatively team-friendly. If the right deal comes to fruition, either of these teams would benefit from the Manimal's energy and enthusiasm.