NBA Trade Predictions – Kenneth Faried Shopped Around By Denver Nuggets; Houston Rockets Will Trade Omer Asik

It's one week until the season tips off, but trade rumors have already started. Kenneth Faried is Denver's rising star, but he's asking for an astronomical extension. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are predicted to trade Omer Asik sometime in the season.

Kenneth Faried earned the nickname "Manimal" because of his ferocity on the court. He has also become a fan favorite. While it seems like a no-brainer to keep him, the Denver Nuggets are taking a cautious step.

A coaching change has sparked the second thoughts on Faried. The Manimal was the perfect fit for George Karl and his and 'run n gun' offense. Now, George Karl is gone, and new coach Brian Shaw wants legitimate post players in his frontcourt. In an interview with CBS Sports:

Brian Shaw: "I know that's the main thing our bigs can bring: our energy. We're not as polished as a lot of bigs in the post in terms of throwing the ball to them with their back to the basket and them going to get a bucket for us. But that's the way we have to play, and they just have to get used to doing it that way, because that's how we're going to do it.

It's a process, and they'll gain more confidence as they get used to the way we're going to get the ball inside to them."

Can the "Manimal" adjust his playing style? He is due for an extension before the start of the next season, and if the Nuggets want a better post player, it may be advisable to trade Faried now before he struggles in Shaw's system. The Nuggets are actually shopping him to see what they can get in return.

Meanwhile, in most NBA Predictions, it's almost consistent that the Houston Rockets will trade Omer Asik. After the Rockets acquired Dwight Howard, his presence has become redundant, and playing them together will slow down the offense. Grantland's Zach Lowe writes: "Asik is just too valuable a trade chip to keep given his overlapping skill set with Howard. Asik's contract calls for an onerous $15 million salary in 2014-15, but that's the last year of his deal, and he's a very valuable player - more valuable to another team than he'll be to Houston now."