Could the Sacramento Kings wind up with soon-to-be restricted free agent Kenneth Faried in a sign-and-trade next summer? The Denver Nuggets reportedly are unwilling to give Faried a max contract, which could open the door for the Kings to pursue the big man in July.
There're a lot of ifs this early. First, the report.
"The Nuggets and Kenneth Faried's representatives are in negotiations for a new deal, and have been for the last couple months," Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post wrote Monday. "Under NBA rules, they have until Oct. 31 to have a new deal signed, and I think that will definitely happen. There have been some who have predicted Faried would get a max deal, but given the comparables at his position, power forward, and the fact that he's still got his best basketball ahead of him, there's no way his contract will be a max deal.
"But it will be a significant jump in salary. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see it end up around an average of $12 million per year."
If Denver doesn't offer Faried a max deal and he becomes a restricted free agent because he's insistent on getting paid the max, then the Kings could make a play for him.
Faried is coveted by Sacramento for his ability to instantly improve the roster at the 4-spot, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Jones, though, dismissed the idea of Sacramento actually being able to acquire Faried because he thought it unlikely Denver wouldn't reach a max deal with the power forward by the summer.
A trade this season is unlikely. But if Faried reaches restricted free agency because Denver refuses to give him a max deal, and if the Kings want him bad enough to offer one, Faried could end up in Sacramento as one of the pieces in a sign-and-trade that would help both teams.
As mentioned, Denver and Faried have until Oct. 31 to reach a contract extension. If no deal is reached, Faried becomes a restricted free agent in July. The Kings need a power forward -- ideally somebody who can space the floor for DeMarcus Cousins -- but not pursuing Faried, if available, would be foolish.
*Article updated.
