NBA Trade Deadline: Dallas Mavericks Should Call About Kenneth Faried
By Kohl Rast
Reports are surfacing that the Denver Nuggets are trying to move Kenneth Faried and are willing to add a pick to sweeten the deal. This is the type of trade the Dallas Mavericks should be ready to make.
If the reports are accurate from Adrian Wojnarowski (and they usually are), the Denver Nuggets are ready to move Kenneth Faried. Of all the bigger contracts out there right now, this may be the best one available for Dallas to jump on.
Denver has been wanting to move on from Faried for some time, but it seems that they are now ready to entice buyers with a pick added onto the deal.
Faried’s contract is big but it is not unruly like Joakim Noah or Luol Deng. He is owed just under $14 million next year before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The Dallas Mavericks can take this information in a lot of different directions. Here are just a few of them.
Denver looks to add talent
If the Nuggets want to add a good player in place of Faried, a trade of Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler, and a protected first round pick to Dallas for Wesley Matthews and Josh McRoberts might make sense.
Denver would gain talent and a starting small forward in Wesley Matthews which would be much better than Wilson Chandler has been for them. Plus they get to move two bad contracts.
Dallas would get the first round pick, but would take on an additional $12 million in payroll next summer if Chandler opts into his final year. Risky and tough, but may be worth it since both Faried and Chandler are at least serviceable players.
Denver trying to clear cap
If Denver is really trying to open up some cap room (which is more likely), then a trade of Kenneth Faried and a first round pick to Dallas for Nerlens Noel and Josh McRoberts, makes sense.
Both Noel and McRoberts are expiring contracts, so neither would hurt Denver in the long run. They would get Faried off the books and go into the offseason with an additional $13 million in spending room.
Dallas would take on a bigger contract but would be able to explore some other avenues like moving Dwight Powell if they get a Faried type player.
Dallas takes chances on a hometown player
Emmanuel Mudiay is from Dallas and still has fans in the area. If Dallas were to pull off a trade for the youngster, there may be a way to tie it in with Faried. Dallas could trade Yogi Ferrell and Dwight Powell in exchange for Kenneth Faried, Emmanuel Mudiay, and a first round pick.
This trade would rely on what Denver wants to do with cap space, but they could get a young point guard that is reaching his potential with Yogi in exchange for Mudiay, while also getting Faried off the books. Powell may be a flyer pick but I don’t think he is nearly as hated outside of Dallas as he is here.
Dallas would be able to get off the very hated Powell contract in exchange for a hated Faried contract. They would lose Yogi but would gain Mudiay who they could give a shot to. And of course, the first rounder.
Next: The Toronto Raptors Should Pursue Wesley Matthews
These are just a few trade ideas for the Mavericks, but I think that there is something that can be done with the Denver Nuggets. The clock is ticking.