Timberwolves reportedly interested in Kenneth Faried

The Sporting News’ Sean Deveney is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are one team that is interested in the Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried ahead of tomorrow’s NBA draft.

The obvious link here is Thibodeau, who was an assistant coach for Team USA during the 2014 FIBA World Cup when Faried played a starring role on the gold medal-winning national team.

Faried’s contract, which has three years and roughly $51 million left on it, is an attractive asset to teams, especially with the salary cap continuing to skyrocket over the next two years.

It’s doubtful that the Timberwolves would give up a young piece of their core like Zach LaVine, but a package around stretch four Nemanja Bjelica, wing Shabazz Muhammad or big man Adreian Payne could be a good place to start. Minnesota only owns the No. 5 pick in Thursday’s draft but have their 2017 first round pick and New Orleans’ 2017 second round pick.

Faried and first-year head coach Michael Malone didn’t exactly see eye to eye last season and the 26-year-old averaged less fourth-quarter minutes per game than Darrell Arthur and Jusuf Nurkic.