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Toronto Raptors Trade Proposal: Kenneth Faried for Terrence Ross, Greg Stiemsma and a First-Round Pick

By Kevin Nimmock

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As the Feb. 19 NBA Trade Deadline looms closer and closer, it is becoming increasingly clear which teams are set to blowup, with the hopes of commencing a rebuilding process over the summer. The Toronto Raptors are not one of those teams, but GM Masai Ujiri would be wise to take a look at some struggling squads to see if there is any talent worth poaching in exchange for some attractive rebuilding pieces.

This season is not going the way anyone from the Denver Nuggets’ front office might have hoped and expected. The team, which earned a 36-46 record last season, has seen no improvements after the roster was supposedly upgraded in the offseason. The Nuggets are 19-33 and a playoff birth is out of the question. For this reason, many around the basketball world are suggesting the Nuggets are set to try again with a new batch of players, starting with the 2015 NBA Draft.

Ujiri should target Kenneth Faried, a player with the capacity to give the Raps a real shot of advancing deep into the playoffs. The Manimal offers exactly what the Raptors crave. He is a strong, aggressive big man with solid rebounding skills and an ability to defend and score effectively. Faried is averaging 11.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season, which is actually worse than the numbers he put up last season.

Faried is a native to the power forward position, but he is strong enough to pickup minutes at centre in relief of the young and sometimes defensively challenged Jonas Valanciunas. He would also greatly help out Patrick Patterson and Amir Johnson in the rebounding department. Faried would start for the Raptors, giving the team a top-notch starting rotation, with four All-Star caliber players.

Obviously, Faried won’t come cheap. Ujiri could potentially get him for Terrence Ross, Greg Stiemsma and a first-round pick in 2015. This deal would certainly be worth it, as the Raptors would gain more playoff legitimacy and likely avoid the first-round exit they suffered against the Brooklyn Nets last season.

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In Terrence Ross, the Nuggets would get a young, freakishly athletic wing with the ability to (sometimes) shoot 3-pointers, cut to the hoop for explosive dunks and play solid defence. Ross is having a rough season, but still shows the potential to develop into the solid player he was drafted to become. He has been coming off the bench recently, which has actually helped his play. He looks more confident and assertive defensively, as he attempts to show his worth. Ross probably wouldn’t mind a change of scenery.

Stiemsma offers little more than cheap help and shot blocking. He has hardly played for the Raptors this season, but he is consistent and capable when he gets minutes. He has no offensive game to speak of, but could be a worthwhile asset for a team not dead set on winning too many games. He could fill a roster spot for the Nuggets as they rebuild through the draft.

Finally, a first-round pick would help the Nuggets acquire solid talent. Honestly, a draft pick might actually be the most attractive part of this deal for the Nuggets. At the very least, this deal could make Nuggets GM Tim Connelly think. For the Raptors, this trade would be a huge step towards championship contention.

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