Sources: Nuggets to sign DeMar DeRozan after trading Peyton Watson
ClutchPoints · Brett Siegel · 2026-08-21T21:01:48+00:00 · nguồn gốc
The Denver Nuggets are signing six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan to a minimum contract for the 2026-27 NBA season, league sources told ClutchPoints on Friday afternoon.
DeRozan, 37, has been available as an unrestricted free agent since the Sacramento Kings waived him in July to create financial flexibility. Only $10 million of DeRozan's 25.7 million contract with the Kings for the upcoming year was guaranteed this offseason, which is why the Kings decided to part ways with him.
Less than two days after agreeing to a sign-and-trade with Peyton Watson and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Nuggets land DeRozan as a key secondary star and scorer alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Throughout his entire career, DeRozan has been known for being a reliable scoring option who has always been readily available.
This past year, he played in 77 games, averaging 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game with the Kings while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor. The 2025-26 season was the first time since the 2012-13 season that DeRozan failed to average more than 20 points per game.
Over the last five seasons, DeRozan has played at least 74 games every season. He ranks 18th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and is fourth among active players, trailing only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
Since the Sacramento Kings waived him, multiple teams have expressed interest in signing DeRozan. There was a lot of noise initially about a potential reunion with the Toronto Raptors, but the attention for DeRozan quickly shifted to Denver, Miami, and Washington.
After recently parting ways with Watson by way of his sign-and-trade, ClutchPoints reported on Wednesday night that the Nuggets were determined to land DeRozan on a minimum deal. Although initial word surrounding the veteran upon being bought out by the Kings was that he did not want to take a minimum deal, he ultimately settles for this spot in Denver, a championship contender in the West.
The Heat were also linked to DeRozan since he was waived by the Kings, but Miami opted to wait and pursue Klay Thompson. Upon being bought out by the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, news of Thompson intending to sign with the Heat emerged.
Whether or not DeRozan starts in Denver is the big question at hand. If he does slide into the Nuggets' starting lineup, he would start over Christian Braun, who started in all 44 games he appeared in during the 2025-26 regular season.
DeRozan has likely accepted a bench role with the Nuggets, where he will be the team's reliable sixth man and go-to scoring option when Murray or Jokic check out of the game.
Last season, the Nuggets went 54-28 before losing in the first round of the playoffs to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Jokic again declining to take an extension this offseason and their core getting older, the Nuggets are doing everything they can to maximize their championship potential.
That is why signing DeRozan and bringing him off the bench is a major win in what has been a quiet offseason for Denver.