The Denver Nuggets may have created room in the shuffle, but they still have work to do.
After Peyton Watson was moved in a five-team deal Wednesday night, Denver’s roster picture changed quickly - and so did the team’s options. The trade sent Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Denver set to receive Cleveland’s 2031 first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder from the Sacramento Kings.
Cleveland, meanwhile, moved Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, a move that opened the door for the Cavs to sign Watson to a four-year, $88 million contract. The transaction also involved the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets to get everything finalized.
The move helped Denver from a financial standpoint, but it didn’t exactly solve the bigger problem. The Nuggets are still working through a tough salary-cap situation, and Watson’s departure leaves another hole to patch. That’s why attention has started shifting toward DeMar DeRozan.
“The Denver Nuggets are pivoting and have their eyes directed on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan who remains a free agent in demand for contenders, league sources tell me,” NBA reporter Chris Haynes wrote.
DeRozan became available after Sacramento waived him on Monday, making him one of the most notable names still on the market.
“The Sacramento Kings have waived DeMar DeRozan, the team announced Monday, making the six-time All-Star one of the top free agents on the market. DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for next season, but he and Sacramento worked on his release to allow him to find a new home,” ESPN wrote.
For Denver, the fit is obvious enough. DeRozan would bring a veteran scoring punch and another player who knows how to get buckets without needing everything run through him. With Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray already in place, the Nuggets would be looking at a proven offensive option who could slide into a useful role if the money works.
And the money matters. DeRozan has already made $305 million in his career, while Denver doesn’t have much to spend. If the Nuggets can land him on an affordable deal, it would be a practical swing - and one that gives them another reliable scorer to pair with their two-time MVP.
In Other News...
Cavs Just Made A Costly Wing Bet For Their Playoff Push
Cleveland made a significant swing on the wing as part of a three-team deal with Denver and the Clippers, reshuffling the roster in a move clearly aimed at the playoff push. The Cavaliers are bringing in a young, versatile piece in Peyton Watson on a four-year, $88 million contract, while Max Strus is headed to Los Angeles in the same transaction.
The price tag, though, is the part that will linger. To complete the deal, Cleveland gave up a future first-round pick that is unprotected, a steep cost for a team trying to balance immediate contention with long-term flexibility. For a roster built to win now, it is the kind of move that can look bold in April and a lot more complicated if the playoff run does not go the way the Cavs hope. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers May Have Caught A Break In Denvers Growing Contract Mess
The Cavaliers may have found a timely opening in Denvers contract situation, as Peyton Watson has moved on after the Nuggets reportedly were unwilling to meet his asking price. For Cleveland, it is the kind of roster development that can come from patience and a little friction elsewhere, especially when a team with championship expectations starts feeling the squeeze of its own payroll decisions.
Christian Brauns long-term deal is part of the backdrop here, and the criticism around that contract has only sharpened the pressure on Denvers front office. With four years still left after this season, the Nuggets have less room to maneuver than they would like, and Watsons departure serves as another reminder that even good teams can find themselves boxed in when the numbers stop lining up. [Read more 🡒]