New York Knicks should consider trade for Kenneth Faried
The New York Knicks should take advantage of the Denver Nuggets trying to unload Kenneth Faried if it means adding another first round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The New York Knicks will be draft ninth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. It will give them another opportunity to add some young talent to the roster. Right now, Kristaps Porzingis and Frank Ntilikina are the foundation of the team.
The No. 9 overall pick will, hopefully, provide the Knicks with another building block for the future. While adding one building block is nice, adding two would be even better.
Landing more first round picks has become difficult in recent seasons. They have immense value as cost-controlled, young talent. While they rarely come available, there is a chance that another lottery pick could be moved in the coming weeks.
The Denver Nuggets have the No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. However, they do not have much cap space to work with this offseason to improve the team. As a result, they could look to unload some salary in the form of Kenneth Faried.
Faried is owed $13.8 million in the final year of his four-year, $50 million extension signed on Oct. 8, 2014. Faried was coming off arguably the best season of his career and the extension looked like a no-brainer. However, things have not progressed as the team had hoped.
Faried has seen his role with the team diminish in recent seasons. His minutes per game have decreased in three consecutive seasons. Last season, he played only 32 games, averaging 14.4 minutes per game.
As a result, the Nuggets could look to unload Faried this offseason and use the 14th overall pick as a sweetener for a deal.
Ryan Blackburn of Denver Stiffs shared some information from Adrian Wojnarowski on the ESPN Mock Special. Wojnarowski shared the information about the Nuggets looking to trade Faried and attaching the 14th pick along with him.
@wojespn during the ESPN Mock Special just now:
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) May 30, 2018
"The Nuggets have been trying to get off of Kenneth Faried's contract for a year plus. They're a candidate to use that 14th pick to get off of that salary."
Lines up with what a lot of Nuggets pundits have thought for awhile.
This is something that the Knicks should get into the bidding for. The Knicks’ frontcourt could look a lot different during the 2018-19 season.
Michael Beasley is an unrestricted free agent. Kyle O’Quinn and Enes Kanter could both become free agents as well, as both have player options. Kristaps Porzingis’ status is cloudy as he recovers from ACL surgery he underwent in February. Even if he takes the court next season, the Knicks will undoubtedly be careful with their franchise player.
More from New York Knicks
- NBA Trades: This swing-for-the-fences deal is a must for the Knicks
- Ranking Leon Rose’s three best and worst moves as Knicks President
- New York Knicks: Why Julius Randle is essential for the Knicks
- Should the Knicks trade up into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft?
- Knicks 2023 offseason primer: free agents, trades, draft needs and more
With Porzingis injured, and Beasley possibly leaving in free agency, the Knicks could have a ton of minutes available at power forward. Faried could fill that void and look to improve his value as he enters free agency in 2019.
Given the logjam that Denver has in its frontcourt, it is probably in the best interest of the team and Faried to part ways. Paul Millsap, Juan Hernangomez, Trey Lyles and Tyler Lydon are all capable of handling power forward, in addition to Darrell Arthur and Wilson Chandler if they remain on the roster.
The Knicks have engaged in trade talks revolved around Faried previously. Prior to New York trading Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith, to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there were talks of trading Shumpert to the Nuggets for Faried.
While a trade didn’t happen then, now could be the time for the Knicks and Nuggets to come together on a Faried exchange.
For New York, the ability to absorb Faried’s contract prior to the NB Draft is complicated. The easiest way to the team getting cap space is if Kanter and O’Quinn opt out. However, that cannot happen until July 1 when free agency begins.
One trade that could work, monetarily, is Courtney Lee for Faried straight up. That may not be a deal that the Knicks want to make, but acquiring an additional first round pick would be a smart move to make.
Next: New York Knicks: 5 Options For No. 9 Overall Pick
The Knicks and Nuggets were involved in a three-team deal at the trade deadline that also involved the Dallas Mavericks. It would make sense for New York to once again engage them in trade negotiations. Bringing in Faried for a year, if it means adding an additional first round pick in the loaded 2018 NBA Draft, would be worthwhile.