Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (R) boxes out Memphis Grizzlies' Matt Barnes. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets are again shopping five-year NBA veteran Kenneth Faried this offseason, but the trade market for the "Manimal" is said to be bleak, according to analysts.
Speculations of a possible Nuggets trade involving the 26-year-old undersized power forward had actually been circulating for the past two years so it is not surprising to hear it again this summer.
Denver had been trying to build a winning combination these past several seasons and with the hiring of head coach Mike Malone last year, it was clear that Faried was the "odd man out" in the "winning formula" that the ballclub is trying to form, Mile High Sports reported.
The article noted that a Nuggets-Faried "breakup is evident" and could come even before the new season starts this October.
The team reportedly tried to trade the former Morehead State standout to the Hawks earlier this summer for Paul Millsap, but the deal did not push through as an appropriate package were not approved by both sides.
Meanwhile, BSN Denver's Harrison Wind said in his recent weekend mailbag that Faried's time with the Nuggets is still not over even with the rumor that he was almost shipped to Atlanta for Millsap.
Wind was sure, though, that Denver is "actively shopping the Manimal" and he thinks the 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Teamer could be traded before the new season begins, but that the market for Faried "looks bleak".
He further said that Faried's value in the trade market this offseason is not that high as NBA teams "are likely looking at him as a guy they'd bring off the bench", which is what the Nuggets are trying to do but the player is resisting.
That is the reason why he thinks Faried will stay as a Nugget for the foreseeable future, because no one will trade for the 6-foot-8 number four to make him a starter and Faried does not want to come off the bench at this point of his career.
It remains to be seen what would be the conclusion of this Kenneth Faried-Denver Nuggets saga and how long will it last, but it is safe to expect that the Manimal will be staying at the Mile-High City at least in 2016-2017.
