The Denver Nuggets added a real name to a thin bench, and ESPN thinks the move deserves respect.
Denver’s one-year, $3.9 million agreement with DeMar DeRozan earned a B from ESPN, a grade that reflects the obvious tradeoff here: the fit is imperfect, but the talent upgrade is hard to miss when the Nuggets are operating with so little flexibility. In a market where the veteran’s minimum is basically the only tool available, landing a player like DeRozan stands out.
“Even in his late 30s, DeRozan offers a different level of scoring and playmaking - he’s a very underrated passer - than any other option outside the Nuggets’ starting lineup,” ESPN wrote. “He should be able to help stabilize the offense when Jokic or Jamal Murray rest.”
That kind of help was badly needed. Before DeRozan arrived, Denver’s top bench scorers were Marvin Bagley III, who averaged 10.5 points per game last season, and Julian Strawther, who put up 7.2 in limited action.
DeRozan, meanwhile, still posted 18.4 points and 4.1 assists for Sacramento last season at age 37. Outside of Russell Westbrook, he may now have the strongest resume of any reserve in the Nikola Jokic era.
The fit, though, comes with real questions. DeRozan is much more in the mold of Westbrook or Bruce Brown than Tim Hardaway Jr., largely because he isn’t a 3-point shooter - he’s a career 30% mark from deep - and because his passing gives him another way to influence the offense. He remains one of the best midrange scorers ever, but that skill set can create spacing concerns next to Nikola Jokic and Christian Braun, who is coming off a 30% season from three.
Defense is another issue. DeRozan won’t replace the defensive value Denver lost with Peyton Watson, and ESPN pointed to his “considerable defensive limitations.”
Even so, the bigger picture matters. The Nuggets are the only team in the second apron.
They couldn’t take back salary in the Watson deal. They can’t use exceptions.
With those constraints, the veteran’s minimum was the lane they had, and DeRozan was one of the best players left in it. Getting a six-time All-Star for $2.4 million against the cap is exactly the kind of move that can soften a rough offseason.
As ESPN put it: “For years now, Denver’s bench has been a problem, and DeRozan won’t come close to solving that issue all on his own. But it’s slightly less of an issue today than it was yesterday.”
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