Nets acquire Faried, 1st-round pick from Denver
Since Sean Marks came in as the Nets' general manager, the narrative has been consistent.
Marks has stayed away from overpriced free agents and instead acquired assets by taking on bloated contracts. The latest Nets move was no exception.
The Nets acquired Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, a 2019 first-round pick and a 2020 second-round pick Friday morning. Marks sent back Isaiah Whitehead, who will be waived by Denver, in the deal.
Denver's first-round pick is protected 1-12 in 2019 and unprotected in 2020.
To create the cap space to take on Fareid's contract, Marks traded Jeremy Lin and a 2025 second-round pick to the Hawks. The Nets brought back the rights to Atlanta's 2016 second-round pick Isaia Cordinier in the deal.
Lin was the odd man out at point guard following the acquisition of D'Angelo Russell and the breakout of Spencer Dinwiddie. Lin's tenure in Brooklyn was ravaged by injuries, leaving him on the outside looking in.
Getting another first-round pick and clearing the logjam at point guard were the two major priorities for the Nets this offseason. Marks accomplished both with this pair of trades.
The Nuggets had been rumored to be packaging Faried and a first-round pick prior to the draft. The 28-year-old is set to make $13,764,045 in the final year of his contract.
The trade was ideal for Marks as he brought back a first-round pick without compromising Brooklyn's cap space for 2019.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Faried, who grew up and went to high school in Newark, New Jersey.
The seven-year NBA veteran found himself relegated to the bench for most of last season, averaging 5.9 PPG and 4.8 RPG in just 14.4 MPG. Faried could be serviceable for a Nets team that struggled rebounding and defending the paint last season.
"His game will transition well to Brooklyn and what Kenny’s wanting to do here. He brings some of the intangibles that you mentioned before, which is just that interior presence, the physicality and so forth," Marks said of Faried per Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily.
Darrell Arthur could also fill a role for the Nets as a stretch four. The 30-year-old shot a scorching 45.3% from three in 41 games throughout the 2016-2017 season.
Arthur played in only 19 games last season due to a left knee issue. If the 10-year NBA veteran can stay healthy, he could give the Nets a 3-and-D power forward off the bench.
Marks made another solid under the radar move on Saturday, signing former Portland point guard Shabazz Napier to a two-year deal. Napier had the best season of his career last year, averaging 8.7 PPG off the bench.
The 27-year-old shot an impressive 37.6% from three last season and showed ability to knock down a smooth pull-up jumpshot off the pick and roll.
Napier's best attribute is his confidence. The former Final Four MVP was fearless coming off the bench for Portland and did not shy away from the moment late in games.
Napier will likely fill the third spot in the point guard rotation for Brooklyn.
It was a successful weekend for the Nets. Brooklyn will now have two first-round picks and the ability to bring in two max free agents next offseason.
The Nets are still a long ways away from contending in the East, but the team and fans can see the light at the end of the tunnel.