Denver’s interest in DeMar DeRozan was reportedly dependent on him accepting the veteran minimum, with the two sides still apart on money. That standoff resolved fast as DeRozan is now a Nugget, and the debate has shifted from “how much” to “how he’ll actually be used.”
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DeRozan agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with Denver, a veteran minimum contract confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania. According to Jake Weinbach, the plan is for DeRozan to come off the bench rather than make the starting five.
“DeMar DeRozan is expected to come off the bench for the Nuggets after agreeing to a one-year, $3.9M minimum deal,” Weinbach wrote. “Christian Braun will likely retain the starting shooting guard position, with DeRozan leading the bench unit in Denver.”
The Nuggets’ four starting spots – Jamal Murray, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic – were never really in question, and Braun was a steady, established piece of that group after signing a five-year, $125 million extension last October.
What Denver’s roster lacked was a reliable second-unit scorer. One that is capable of creating offense independent of Jokic. A gap that became pressing after the team lost Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade to Cleveland.
DeRozan, who posted a career-efficient .594 true shooting percentage last season on 18.4 points per game with Sacramento, fits that specific need well as a bench closer rather than a fifth starter.
Heavy’s projection of Denver’s lineup actually had DeRozan starting outright at shooting guard. Pushing Braun to the bench instead, while arguing that the Nuggets would want their five most talented offensive players on the floor together from tip-off.
DeRozan has started every game he’s played in for 17 straight seasons, and coach David Adelman hasn’t publicly committed to keeping him off the opening lineup. What is agreed upon across every report is DeRozan’s actual value to the roster.
Jokic, Gordon and Murray were reportedly all directly involved in recruiting him to Denver. A detail Chris Haynes reported that speaks to how much buy-in already exists in the locker room regardless of what his role ends up looking like on paper.
For DeRozan, the deal represents a fraction of his market value in exchange for a legitimate shot at the championship. One that’s eluded him across 17 NBA seasons and almost 27,000 career points.
He was waived by Sacramento last month after trade talks stalled. He reportedly drew interest from several other teams before choosing Denver for its contender status. Whether he ends up starting or leading the second unit, as Weinbach reported, the move gives the Nuggets an accomplished, high-volume scorer to pair with Jokic’s playmaking.