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Denver Nuggets: Free agency preview

By Mitchell Carter

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 20: Nikola Jokic #15 and Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets box out Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 20, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 20: Nikola Jokic #15 and Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets box out Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 20, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 06: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 6, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 06: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 6, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Unload the Kenneth Faried contract

Now that Nikola’s deal is all but finalized, the Denver Nugget’s cap situation has become even tighter. Following opt-ins by both Darrell Arthur and Wilson Chandler, the team is pretty much at their cap space if not over.

Obviously this should not be something to worry about. Team owner Josh Kroenke has made it clear that he is willing to go over the luxury tax threshold. However, it would be nice to have a little flexibility. That will give the front office the chance to play the free agency game a little bit.

That’s where the Kenneth Faried contract comes into play. According to Basketball Insiders  Faried is scheduled to make $13.7 million next season.

Faried was not a factor in head coach Michael Malone’s rotation, so paying that much money to a bench warmer does seem logical.

Unloading this contract will be very difficult. The team tried to trade away Faried many times over the past two seasons to no avail.

Look for Denver to package young pieces and/or draft picks to try and entice someone to take on the final year of that contract.

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