Sources: DeRozan joining Nuggets on 1-year deal — SkimNews
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- DeMar DeRozan agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, choosing Denver over Miami, Washington, and New Orleans after the Nuggets' front office and coaches showed him how he would complement Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as an additional playmaker.
- Sacramento Kings waived DeRozan earlier this offseason to trim salary, as only $10 million of his $25.7 million deal was guaranteed for 2026-27, making him a free agent.
- Denver Nuggets sent young wing Peyton Watson to Cleveland as part of a four-team trade to create room for DeRozan, whom they recruited as a veteran backcourt presence.
- Miami Heat pursued DeRozan with mutual interest, and Bam Adebayo communicated with him throughout the summer, but Miami prioritized Klay Thompson, who is expected to sign once he clears waivers following a buyout with Dallas.
- DeRozan, 37, averaged 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting in his 17th NBA season and appeared in all but five games, continuing a streak of at least 70 games played in each of the past five seasons.
- DeRozan has reached the playoffs just twice since leaving Toronto — once with Chicago — making Denver his clearest shot at postseason basketball in years.
Why it matters: Denver added a six-time All-Star averaging 18.4 points at a $3.9 million veteran's-minimum price, an extreme discount driven by Sacramento's need to shed DeRozan's $25.7 million contract. The Nuggets strengthened a championship core around Jokic and Murray while sending out Watson, signaling a win-now push for a player who has reached the postseason just once in the last six seasons.
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