Kenneth Faried signed a long-term deal in the offseason, but reports indicated that the Denver Nuggets might eventually decide to trade the do-it-all power forward.

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN reported that even if the Nuggets signed Faried to a four-year, $50 million deal during the offseason, the Nuggets are reportedly prepared to part ways with the 25-year-old forward.

Sources indicated that the Nuggets signed J.J. Hickson to a three-year, $16 million deal as a preparation for Faried's possible departure after the 2014-15 NBA season.

"Several sources around the league insist the Nuggets' hand was forced with regard to Faried," Arnovitz wrote.

"After the signing of Hickson to a three-year, approximately $16 million contract soon after (GM Tim) Connelly's arrival, the sense was the bouncy big man was insurance against Faried's departure in free agency in 2014."

The Nuggets are reportedly not sold on Faried, but they were forced to lock him up to long-term deal because the fourth-year forward was a fan favorite in Denver. The former Morehead State standout also performed well during Team USA's campaign at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

"Faried was a fan favorite in Denver, but multiple sources with knowledge of the Nuggets' thinking maintain the team 'isn't crazy about him,' particularly Shaw," Arnovitz wrote. "But with Faried's boffo showing last summer with Team USA and a loyal following in Denver, the media-conscious Nuggets caved."

Faried, who is averaging 11.3 points to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season, recently confirmed to ProBasketballTalk that he had a rocky relationship with Shaw, who is coaching in his second season in Denver.

"We'd butt heads because certain philosophies he was going with I didn't want to obey them or abide by them. I wanted to do my own thing and play more minutes. I was frustrated," Faried said. "But as the season went on, it sucked because guys went down, but we had to come together and click in order for us to win."

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