Brooklyn Nets: 3 players most likely to be traded before deadline

2. Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried made his way to Brooklyn in this past offseason after spending seven seasons with the Denver Nuggets. Since his arrival, there have yet to be meaningful minutes or opportunity available for him.

In the 12 games he has played so far this season, he is averaging 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in a career low 9.8 minutes per game. He has only played 20 or more minutes twice so far this season and has yet to play more than two games in a row.

Despite speculation, head coach Kenny Atkinson has been vocal about both Faried’s and the team’s lack of interest in arranging a buyout. That makes him a likely candidate to be traded prior to the deadline. A deal sending out Faried, who hasn’t found a contributing role with the Nets, could be helpful in bringing back more valuable roster pieces for Brooklyn.

The Nets, who are 20th in the league in defensive rating and bottom five in both steals and blocks, could desperately use help defending. Kenneth Faried could be a solid trade piece in addressing this need, as he is in the last year of his current contract. Making just over $13.7 million this season, his salary could easily match up with ideal targets for the Nets, such as Kent Bazemore or Courtney Lee.