Sources: DeRozan joining Nuggets on 1-year deal
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- DeMar DeRozan agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, choosing Denver over the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, and New Orleans Pelicans during free agency.
- The Denver Nuggets' front office and coaches made a strong recruitment push in recent weeks, showing DeRozan how he'd complement Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as an additional playmaker.
- There was mutual interest between DeRozan and the Miami Heat — Bam Adebayo and DeRozan communicated throughout the summer — but the Heat prioritized Klay Thompson, who is expected to sign once he clears waivers after a buyout with Dallas.
- The Sacramento Kings waived DeRozan earlier this offseason to trim salary, with only $10 of his $25.7 million deal guaranteed for 2026-27.
- DeRozan averaged 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting in his 17th NBA season, had averaged at least 20 points in 12 straight seasons before that, and appeared in all but five games last season — continuing a streak of 70-plus games in each of the past five years.
Why it matters: Denver bolsters its supporting cast around Jokic and Murray with a six-time All-Star and one of the league's most durable scorers on a near-minimum deal, while the Heat lose out on their secondary free-agent target and pivot to Klay Thompson via buyout.
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