With teams looking to make moves up and down the draft board, certain players will become available in the coming weeks. The Denver nuggets could be looking to make the first moves as they continue to try and rebuild a successful team. That could come at the cost of two of their top players as both Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried are expected to be available come draft day.
According to NBA writer Chuck Myron, Faried could be a draft-day trade as the Nuggets look to move up the boards. The question is just how much he is worth. Is Faried a first-round pick player or could a team grab him in a move down while offering a pick in a later year? Myron believes several teams could be eyeing the forward should he truly be available as the Knicks could become players for Faried or even Lawson.
Ian Begley of ESPN.com is reporting the Knicks are seriously considering moving down the draft board from the No.4 pick in order to acquire established talent. Phil Jackson admitted he is not patient when it comes to rebuilding and getting free agents over undeveloped rookies is the more ideal situation for him. As a result, the Knicks are exploring trade deals to see what they can garner. The Nuggets make their first pick at No.7. Could the Knicks strike a deal with Denver to move down and acquire Faried or Lawson?
The Knicks need a player like Faried. Right now, the team is working out players like Justise Winslow, Willie Cauley-Stein and Frank Kaminsky to fill that type of role. Faried fits the category of established talent as well. The interest in these players comes after Bleacher Report reported that LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol might no longer be options for the Knicks. The team could still look at players like DeAndre Jordan, Greg Monroe, Brook Lopez or Paul Millsap as well. They have options.
There is also the idea of bringing back Andrea Bargnani. Fans might not be too thrilled on that idea considering he has been more of a headache than anything else, but Bargnani really came on strong at the end of the season and reportedly impressed Jackson. Bargnani would be a cheap acquisition and a good veteran to pair with a rookie should a deal in free agency fail. Bargnani would have to be willing to come cheap for the Knicks as they would not offer him anything more than a short-term deal.
