Free agent DeMar DeRozan has agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal ahead of the 2026–27 season. The move raises the question: does his arrival push Denver back into NBA championship contention?
The 37-year-old forward proved during his stint with the Sacramento Kings that he still has plenty left in the tank. Over two seasons, DeRozan averaged 20.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 154 regular-season games.
He maintained efficient shooting splits—48.6% from the field, 32.5% from three, and 86.2% from the line—and started every game he played. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ninth overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft has built a career across multiple franchises: Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento Kings.
Durability has been a strength in recent years, with DeRozan staying relatively healthy and consistently available.
Are the Nuggets Championship Contenders Once Again?
The answer isn’t straightforward. DeRozan’s name on a roster certainly adds credibility, but his career has also been marked by playoff struggles, particularly in the late 2010s.
Denver sacrificed some future upside by letting go of restricted free agent Peyton Watson via trade, a young forward with All-Star potential, in favor of proven production. DeRozan’s presence gives the Nuggets a legitimate sixth-man option, reminiscent of Russell Westbrook’s bench role in 2024–25.
With a strong starting five—Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokić—the pressure on DeRozan won’t be as heavy as in his prime years. His role will be to stabilize the second unit and provide veteran scoring.
The Verdict
The Nuggets are positioned to be a solid playoff team with DeRozan in the mix. Then again, that’s been Denver’s ceiling over the past couple of years already: solid enough to make the playoffs but not as good as to make it all the way to the finals. That’s largely a credit to the brilliance of the Nuggets’ one-two punch of Jokic and Murray.
But in an ever improving Western Conference, what Denver has now might still not be good enough. In other words, DeMar DeRozan might not raise the Nuggets’ ceiling into championship contender.
