DeMar DeRozan is officially headed to the Denver Nuggets, agreeing to a one-year, minimum deal for what will be his 18th NBA season. But hold up, because this move has some serious question marks hanging over it right out of the gate, especially after Denver just got bounced in the first round of the playoffs and is trying to keep pace in a brutal Western Conference. Nuggets fans are already on edge about roster building around Nikola Jokić, and this signing is pouring a little more fuel on that fire.
The Numbers Are Not Lining Up for Denver’s Offense
The biggest head-scratcher with the 37-year-old DeRozan joining Jokić and Jamal Murray? His three-point shooting. The dude played the last two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, putting up 20.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. Solid, right? But his shooting splits were 48.6/32.5/86.2. That 32.5% from beyond the arc is the kicker, especially when the vast majority of his shots come from the midrange. This is a team that dealt Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade earlier this week, and Watson shot 41.1% on threes last year. Denver’s offense leans *hard* on its wings providing space on the perimeter for that killer Jokić-Murray two-man game to thrive. DeRozan’s style, heavily predicated on self-creating more than 61% of his two-point baskets with the Kings, feels like a tough fit when Denver’s whole system is built around Jokić’s creation abilities. Watson, for comparison, was assisted on 65.2% of his two-point baskets. This is a serious clash of styles.
Can DeRozan Adapt to the Jokić Universe?
Look, DeRozan is a six-time All-Star, no doubt about it. He’s an on-ball creator and another scoring option, joining Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon to form their wing rotation. The optimistic view is that he could be exactly what the Nuggets need to helm their bench unit, which has been an Achilles heel for them during Jokić’s tenure. When the three-time MVP is off the floor, DeRozan’s tough shot-making could be way more valuable. But the real challenge is how Coach David Adelman deploys him and how well DeRozan adapts to playing alongside Jokić. Aaron Gordon is a prime example of a player who embraced a smaller creative role and absolutely thrived next to Jokić. But DeRozan has had so much individual success creating his own shot. It’s a huge ask for a player with his history to suddenly change his game.
Nuggets fans were already worried after the Watson trade, and now they’re watching this signing wondering if DeRozan can truly adjust. The whole 2026-27 season hinges on whether this veteran can put his individual success aside and find his niche in Denver’s unique system. This is gonna be fascinating to watch unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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