DeMar DeRozan has found his next home. The six-time All-Star has agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal.
DeRozan considered offers from the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and New Orleans Pelicans during free agency. However, he ultimately chose Denver, drawn by a significant role and a chance to compete for a title in the Western Conference. The Nuggets’ front office and coaching staff made a concerted recruitment push in recent weeks. They pitched DeRozan as a complement to Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, adding another playmaker.
Interestingly, DeRozan and Miami had mutual interest, and he and Bam Adebayo stayed in touch throughout the summer. However, the Heat ultimately prioritized Klay Thompson instead, who signed after clearing waivers from his Dallas buyout.
The move comes on the heels of a notable departure: The Nuggets sent young wing Peyton Watson to Cleveland in a four-team trade. Coming off a first-round playoff exit, the Nuggets faced growing pressure to make a move. Losing Watson’s floor-spacing and flexibility only raised the stakes.
Despite his age, DeRozan still has plenty left in the tank. Over his last two seasons in Sacramento, he averaged 20.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds on 48.6/32.5/86.2 shooting splits, and he now ranks 16th all-time in NBA scoring with 26,711 career points.
Not everything about the pairing is seamless. DeRozan’s long-standing weakness has been three-point shooting, and Denver’s offense relies heavily on its wings to space the floor around the Jokić-Murray two-man game. He also tends to create more of his own offense than he does off Jokić’s playmaking, unlike Watson, who was assisted on 65.2% of his two-point baskets.
Nevertheless, DeRozan brings 17 years of playoff experience and is a player the Nuggets can trust in late-game situations. That is exactly the kind of steady, battle-tested scoring punch a win-now roster covets. He will also be able
For DeRozan, this is a chance to play for a legitimate contender rather than a rebuilding Kings team. It is also a chance to possibly chase the first championship of his career. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Denver is betting that his scoring instincts and experience can be the difference in a deep playoff run.
It’ll be interesting to see what DeRozan can do with the Nuggets. He could be a vital piece to their playoff chances, given the depth they lost this offseason.
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