Odds Each Denver Nuggets’ Player Returns Next Season

Kenneth Faried – Age 26 – Guaranteed $12.08 million

Another interesting case. Kenneth Faried is still a young player at 26 and he’s already proven himself to be a quality starting power forward with the ceiling of a difference maker at the position night in and night out. His rebounding and speed in the open floor are absolutely lethal at times and his energy and passion electrify a fairly passive fan base.

The problem? He has fundamental issues with his game that will never be fixed. He did shoot and make a three-pointer in his last game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers, but the fact that it was the first of the year probably makes it the exception rather than the rule. He will always have an issue spacing the floor for Mudiay because teams don’t respect his outside game.

The other issue? His defense. He posted the worst defensive rating among rotation players on the team last season at 109.1 according to NBA.com, a rather horrendous number that the Nuggets should be looking to improve. His size has always been a concern at a listed 6-foot-8, though that number is generous.

He struggles with defending out to the three-point line, but in the new era of shooting, power forwards don’t just attempt three-pointers regularly, they make them.

Faried is a great NBA player who would excel on a number of teams, but with so many young players itching for more minutes, he may be the player to go. At the moment it seems more likely than not that he would remain a Nugget at the beginning of the season, but I wouldn’t put it past general manager Tim Connelly to deal him – 55 percent.

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