The Denver Nuggets had a tough season last year and now the team is trying to build things back under Brian Shaw, but if that doesn't work this season, trades with names like Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler, Ty Lawson, JaVale McGee or Danilo Gallinari could come up, as teams could be interested as Faried heads towards free agency if the Nuggets look at rebuilding into the future.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Nuggets have started talking to Faried about a contract extension, as he is getting closer to free agency, but so far the two sides have not gotten close. Faried still has time before he hits the market, but the Nuggets know that teams will be calling about him this year and it comes after reports last summer had Denver shopping Faried to other teams. The Knicks reportedly were interested at that time, but with the contracts of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire on the books, they couldn't pull off a deal.
The Nuggets likely won't blow everything up this year, but if the team struggles there is a chance that could happen and this comes just two years after a 50 win season. Masai Ujiri leaving and George Karl also going has put the Nuggets in a tough spot and while Brian Shaw has shown that he has great potential as a coach, after last season the team needs to show some massive improvement.
The Nuggets added back Arron Afflalo this offseason and he could be a very good addition for the team, as he is coming off of a career year with the Magic. Last season Afflalo averaged 18.2 points per game and that should be able to translate well to the Nuggets offense and he could help get things going for the team this season. The Nuggets offense wasn't a major issue last season and now the team needs to play better defense and that is one area Shaw has said he will focus on this summer and in training camp.
The Nuggets made a trade during the draft, moving Doug McDermott in a deal for Gary Harris and now they could look at making moves this season depending on how things shake out. Faried is one of the best young players in the league along with McGee and both of those players will get attention at the deadline if the Nuggets are out of it. The team also has Ty Lawson coming up on a new deal and he could be moved at some point as well.
The Nuggets play in the west and that makes things even tougher, as the conference is so deep and that means Denver really needs to bounce back. The team won just 36 games last season and that would not even have been enough for the playoffs in the east. The team ranked in the top 10 of the league in scoring per game and rebounds so those areas are covered, but the team needs to play better D, as they ranked 28th in the league in points allowed per game.
