Denver landed the most prominent name left in NBA free agency on Friday, securing six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan to a one-year, $3.9 million deal, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. This move is wild, considering the Nuggets were unable to compete with the conference’s best sides in 2025-26, and DeRozan just might be the spark they desperately need to finally add another dimension to that roster.
Starter or Sixth Man: Where Does DeRozan Fit?
The Nuggets’ starting lineup is set for a facelift in 2026-27, especially with Peyton Watson’s trade creating a void at wing. DeRozan has been a starter his entire career, starting every game he played since the 2010-11 season, so theoretically, he could step right into that spot. Imagine Jamal Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic on the floor together! That’s a lineup packed with offensive punch.
But here’s the kicker: his best fit might actually be coming off the bench as a spark-plug. Think about it: DeRozan is renowned for his isolation scoring, sure, but he’s also a gifted passer. That stands in stark contrast to most of Denver’s current bench guys like Christian Braun, Marvin Bagley Jr., and Spencer Jones, who offer little to no self-creation. Christian Braun could take DeRozan’s place in David Adelman’s starting lineup. Braun is a strong defender and has shown steady offense alongside Murray and Jokic. Plus, he’s due to collect over $20 million next year, which feels like a pretty gaudy investment for a guy coming off the bench, doesn’t it? If DeRozan takes that sixth-man role, he could thrive in a setup similar to how Denver found success with Russell Westbrook leading their second unit in 2024-25.
The Steal of the Offseason: Low Risk, High Reward
DeRozan arriving in the Mile High City after a two-year run with the Kings that was filled with points, but little team success, has him at 37 years old. He’s still one of the sport’s better offensive players, blending strong iso scoring with impressive play-making chops. While he wasn’t the most glamorous name to move this offseason, this could be a huge score for Denver’s attack. He even fielded interest from the Heat, Wizards, and Pelicans before settling on the Nuggets, per Charania.
The contract itself is a head-scratcher if you only look at the number: a one-year, $3.9 million deal. That’s a sizable decrease from his prior deals, like the three-year, $73.1 million pact he inked with the Kings in 2024. But Denver had precious little cap space; Watson’s departure was partly due to ownership wanting to avoid the second apron. This makes DeRozan a cheap alternative, snagged for less than his market value. And DeRozan probably isn’t feeling too bad about it, since he had $10 million of his $25.7 million Kings deal guaranteed for this 2026-27 season. This is a low-risk, high-reward move for Denver, plain and simple.
The Nuggets’ roster is seriously lacking in the margins, unable to match the depth of Western Conference foes like the Thunder and Spurs. DeRozan doesn’t fix that depth issue entirely, but his offensive gifts should absolutely inject some much-needed liveliness into those reserves. Can DeRozan inject that offensive punch to finally push the Nuggets past those Western Conference beasts? It’s going to be wild watching it unfold!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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