DeMar DeRozan Joins Denver Nuggets

DeMar DeRozan, a six-time NBA All-Star, has agreed to a one-year minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets. The 37-year-old veteran wing joins Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver to help fill the void at forward after the team traded restricted free agent Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade earlier this week.

DeRozan played the last two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 20.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 48.6/32.5/86.2 shooting splits. His shooting percentages are impressive, but his weakness as an offensive player has always been his 3-point shooting. This might be a concern for the Nuggets, as their offense has leaned heavily on its wings to provide space on the perimeter for the Jokić-Murray two-man game to thrive.

Watson shot 41.1% on 3s last year, while DeRozan shot 32.5% from beyond the arc. However, the majority of DeRozan’s shots came from the midrange. This contrast in styles might create an interesting dynamic, as Denver’s offense is heavily predicated on Jokić’s creation abilities and the rest of the offense following his lead.

DeRozan did play more off the ball in Sacramento, but still self-created more than 61% of his 2-point baskets with the Kings. Watson, on the other hand, was assisted on 65.2% of his 2-point baskets last season. This difference in playmaking styles will be fascinating to watch.

The optimistic view is that DeRozan can help helm the bench unit that has long been an Achilles heel of the Nuggets during Jokić’s tenure. DeRozan’s abilities as a tough shotmaker might not be ideal in Jokić-led lineups, where the Nuggets can create better opportunities than DeRozan’s typical shot diet. But when the three-time MVP is off the floor, DeRozan becomes far more valuable.

Coach David Adelman will have to decide how to deploy DeRozan in the rotation and how well DeRozan adapts to playing alongside Jokić. This will determine the level of success Denver can have in 2026-27. Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon will also play key roles in the Nuggets’ wing rotation, providing another scoring option and on-ball creator on the roster.

Nuggets fans are already a bit on edge about how the franchise is handling roster building during Jokić’s prime years, with the Watson trade raising concerns about their commitment to fully investing in trying to win another championship with arguably the league’s best player.

DeRozan will, fairly or not, bear some of the weight of expectations to help keep Denver in the contender tier in the West with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, even on a minimum contract.

DeRozan’s Fit with the Nuggets Core

DeRozan’s signing with the Nuggets creates an interesting dynamic, as his playing style might not be a perfect fit with the team’s current core. The Nuggets’ offense has leaned heavily on its wings to provide space on the perimeter for the Jokić-Murray two-man game to thrive, but DeRozan’s 3-point shooting has always been a weakness.

However, DeRozan’s abilities as a tough shotmaker might be beneficial in certain situations, such as when the Nuggets need a spark off the bench. His experience playing more off the ball in Sacramento could also be an asset, as he can create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

The key to DeRozan’s success with the Nuggets will be how well he adapts to playing alongside Jokić. If he can find ways to create opportunities for himself and his teammates, he could be a valuable addition to the team’s roster.

What’s Next for the Nuggets?

The Nuggets’ signing of DeRozan creates a lot of excitement for the team’s future. With DeRozan, Cameron Johnson, and Aaron Gordon on the roster, the Nuggets have a strong wing rotation that can provide depth and scoring punch off the bench.

The team will now focus on how to integrate DeRozan into the rotation and how well he adapts to playing alongside Jokić. This will be a key factor in determining the level of success the Nuggets can have in 2026-27.

The Nuggets’ roster building during Jokić’s prime years will also be a topic of interest, as fans will be watching to see how the franchise handles the situation.

With DeRozan on board, the Nuggets have taken a step in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done to build a championship-caliber team.