The Denver Nuggets have made every player on its roster available for trade, triggering speculation that the franchise is preparing for a blockbuster deal before February trade deadline.
Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly acknowledged in a press conference that every player - including franchise cornerstones Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried - can be dealt to another team if a good offer is presented on the table.
"Every player on our roster is a movable asset," Connelly said in an interview. "Certainly you don't want to view players as assets, but there's a part of you in the front office that has to be brutally honest with how these guys are viewed league-wide. We don't have a guy on the roster we'd have to heavily incentivize to move."
Faried, who signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension after a breakout performance at the FIBA World Championship 2014, hasn't made a nice impression on the Nuggets management, especially head coach Brian Shaw.
"Several sources around the league insist the Nuggets' hand was forced with regard to Faried. After the signing of (J.J.) Hickson to a three-year, approximately $16 million contract soon after (GM Tim) Connelly's arrival, the sense was the bouncy big man was insurance against Faried's departure in free agency in 2014," according to Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.
"Faried was a fan favorite in Denver, but multiple sources with knowledge of the Nuggets' thinking maintain the team "isn't crazy about him," particularly Shaw."
The 6-foot-8 power forward averaged 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in his first three year with the Nuggets, but he's expected to be one of the leaders for the team this season. However, the latest report suggested that Nuggets won't think twice in trading him once an enticing offer is put on the table.
The Toronto Raptors have previously expressed interest in acquiring the high-flying Faried from the nuggets, and it won't be a shocker if general manager Masai Ujiri pulls off a deal to get the player he drafted 22nd overall in 2011. Aside from the Raps, the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns are also seen as possible suitors for Faried.
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