Power forward Kenneth Faried is unhappy with his role with the Denver Nuggets after they signed veteran Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90-million deal in the offseason, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post. Millsap’s arrival means that Faried is in for a reserve role in the coming season, which the latter did not take well. In the past days, Faried was very vocal about his new role, telling the Denver Post that he’s not a bench player. Since he was drafted 22nd overall by the Nuggets in the 2011 NBA Draft, Faried started 365 out of 409 games.
Faried insisted that he's a starter.
“I’m a starter. One hundred percent that’s been my whole life. And I’m going to fight for a starting position,”Faried said, adding that he will not let somebody take his spot in the starting lineup. Faried hinted that he might ask for a trade if the Nuggets will relegate him to a bench role in the regular season. “If this team doesn’t want or respect me enough to play me minutes that I think I deserve to play, then I understand that. Hey, there’s 29 others,” stressed the 6-foot-8 Faried, known as the “Manimal” for his aggressiveness and hustle.
Last season, Faried’s numbers dropped to 9.6 points and 7.6 boards per game after averaging 12.5 points and 8.7 boards during the 2015-16 season with the Nuggets.
Faried’s best season in terms of scoring came during the 2013-14 season when he averaged 13.7 points per outing while he averaged a career-best 9.2 boards during the 2012-13 season. In his career, Faried averaged 11.9 points and 8.5 boards.
Millsap a better option at power forward.
The 32-year-old Millsap joined the Nuggets after four stellar seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, where he was selected as an All-Star four straight times.
Millsap declined the player option in his contract with the Hawks that could have paid him $21,472,408 for the 2017-18 season to test the free-agent market. Last season, Millsap averaged 18.1 points and 7.7 boards in 69 games. Millsap can stretch the floor with his outside shooting, a weapon that Faried doesn’t have. Millsap made 31.1 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc while Faried didn’t make any last season.
In two preseason games, Millsap started while Faried came off the bench.
Celtics could be interested in Faried.
The Boston Celtics currently lack a true power forward and could be interested in trading for Faried, who can provide the team with an imposing presence in the shaded lane alongside Al Horford. According to Matt Burke of Metro.us, the Celtics may opt to use their valuable pieces for Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans rather on Faried, who has a limited skill set. However, Burke suggested that a trade involving Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris for Faried could work money-wise.
