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Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried Extension Would Cap Perfect Summer

By Kevin C Keller

Mar 31, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) drives to the basket during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) drives to the basket during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried surprised everyone when he ended up starting in the FIBA World Cup for USA Basketball this summer, but he wasn’t done shocking the basketball world. Faried followed up his starting shocker by being named to the FIBA all-tournament team after USA’s 129-92 win over Serbia in the gold medal game.

Gold medal, all-tournament team, new international star — Kenneth Faried has had quite a great offseason. He was the United States’ most efficient player in the summer tournament with a 17.4 player efficiency rating average (according to FIBA.com), and led the team with 7.7 rebounds a game while averaging 12.2 points a game.

"“He’s been the biggest and best surprise,” USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN on September 2. “(He) turned out to be a very, very important player for us.”"

Getting that kind of praise from one of the best coaches in basketball history is always  a good sign for the young forward and the Nuggets going into next season. Faried emerged as a leader and showed that his excellent second half of last season (where he averaged closed to 20 points and 10 rebounds a game) wasn’t a fluke.

We’re just missing one big piece to keep this excellent summer going for Mr. Faried — a contract extension to keep him in Denver for the foreseeable future.

Apr 16, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) goes up to dunk the ball during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) goes up to dunk the ball during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Kenneth Faried and Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly have until Halloween to get the extension signed. It’s going to be an expensive one considering Faried’s play the last few months, but the Nuggets should definitely make the move as soon as possible.

Getting Faried inked does a couple of great things for the Nuggets. First, it allows the players to head into training camp without any distractions so they can focus on buckling down and making sure they remember how to play with each other after all of last season’s injuries.

The extension would also make Faried a better overall asset for the team, if he wasn’t able to stay in Denver for the full four years of his extension. He was mentioned in trade rumors a couple of times in the last season, and if the right offer came up, having Faried as more than a rental would allow the Nuggets to get more in return.

Considering his play of late, and his potential going into only his fourth NBA season, it would be tough to get more in return. The real benefit of keeping Faried, whose publicly stated his desire to stay in Denver, is that the Nuggets establish a young core having him and Ty Lawson locked up long term.

Championships are built, and that’s a great foundation.

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