14 Trades Involving Kenneth Faried and a Western Conference Team
By Tim Hart
LA Clippers
Trade Machine Results: Nuggets -1 Wins, Clippers +2 Wins
Initial reactions to this proposition are likely to fall in Denver’s favor. However, the Trade Machine suggests otherwise, with the Clippers coming out on top.
Why the Clippers would do it:
Their cap space is of the tightest in the NBA, and this deal would save them about $2 million. They would be giving up an All-Star in Jordan, and their best shooter in Reddick, which seems unrealistic. But still, the acquisition of Faried and Gallinari would apparently be worth it.
Blake Griffin is perfectly capable of playing center. He could even excel at the position, as drawing fouls has become a big part of his game. A big-three of Paul, Gallinari, and Griffin would mean a far more versatile offense for the Clippers. As far as regular season statistics, their offensive production has been excellent over recent years. In seven game series, though, they have struggled to maintain their consistency.
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Redick is simply too easy to shut down, and Jordan offers little-to-no offensive options. He was actually a bit of a liability for the Clippers, especially in playoff-games, particularly due to his poor shooting ability. Sacrificing Jordan’s defensive presence for an offense with three players all capable of scoring 20+ points per-game would be worth it, according to the Trade Machine.
They would have either Crawford or Rivers to absorb the starting SG spot. Additionally, they could have Faried either starting, or coming off the bench as an unpredictable PF capable of making up for Jordan’s rebounding in short bursts. Faried is also known for his high-flying finishes, which could make him fit it very well into “Lob City”.
While Denver seems more ambitious, LA does not seem likely to consider trading away any of their starters. This could haunt them, as their cap space is nonexistent. If they are to make anything special happen with their current lineup, it needs to happen this coming season.
Why the Nuggets would do it:
They would have the shooter they need in Redick, and the star that they crave in Jordan. Jordan’s presence would likely bump Jokic to PF, where he could apply his skills with probable success.
Losing Gallinari would be a tough decision to make, but it may be necessary. Redick wouldn’t be able to match Gallinari’s regular scoring ability, but he is a more reliable three-point option. The Nuggets missed far too many open looks last year, and Redick’s presence would help put an end to that. Additionally, Brandon Bass would make for a solid low-minute bench PF essentially capable of replacing Faried.
A front-court of Jokic and Jordan would be very dangerous. Jokic can spread the floor, and Jordan would supply the consistent paint-defense that has also eluded the Nuggets in recent seasons. The Trade Machine suggest that the Nuggets would losing more than they gain in this deal, but fans will probably think otherwise.
It seems more likely that this trade would wind up favoring the Nuggets, but we will probably never know.
Next: LA Lakers
