A trade rumor linking Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried to the Los Angeles Lakers is recently swirling as head coach Luke Walton reportedly wants to add more experience to his young frontcourt.
The Lakers have acquired Timofey Mozgov from the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer as the team aimed to have a veteran but still young center to man the middle together with their young core.
However, rumors are out that Coach Walton wants to add another vet at the number four position as the team has two young guns alternating at the said spot in Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr.
Fansided said that as the NBA continues to transition "towards small ball" norm that needs "athleticism and tenacity instead of power and size", a trade for Faried will not be impossible to happen for the Hollywood squad.
The 26-year-old former Morehead State standout has been out-of-place with Denver's young players due to his inconsistencies especially on the offensive end of the floor, but a "change of scenery" is perhaps all that he needed to jumpstart his career.
The report noted that "Walton is a big fan of tough, hard-working players down low a la Draymond Green" and Faried "is in a similar mold, making up for his lack of size with hustle and athleticism" although Green is obviously the much-better player particularly on offense.
With the Nuggets seemingly quite ready to "move on from the Manimal" with how head coach Mike Malone had structured his current roster, the Lakers should be able to snag Faried from Denver quite easily if they wish so.
Morning News USA indicated that Faried's addition to the Lakers will "ring hustle and tenacity to a team that ranked 30th in defensive efficiency last season" and would be a key factor to improve if Walton wants to replicate Golden State's success in Los Angeles.
Faried still has three years and $38.7 million left in his Denver contract and the Nuggets are rumored to be eager to offload that kind of salary for a player with a "questionable offensive game".
It remains to be seen, though, if Walton and the Lakers can truly see something on Faried to make them want to push the trade button.