The Denver Nuggets have been boxed in this offseason by their financial situation, and that pressure eventually pushed them into moving on from 23-year-old Peyton Watson. With the team operating in the second apron, Denver’s options were tight, and the search for a replacement began almost immediately.
That search led straight to DeMar DeRozan. NBA reporter Evan Sidery said the Nuggets were “now showing interest in DeMar DeRozan as their replacement for Peyton Watson. DeRozan would join a Denver roster now in need of an impact wing," and not long after, the deal was done.
“The Nuggets signed DeMar DeRozan to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum, per Shams Charania. DeRozan will now fill the void left behind by Peyton Watson in Denver’s wing rotation,” Sidery posted.
Denver had to fend off competition to get it over the line. The Wizards and Heat were also in the mix, and Marc Stein reported that Washington had “shifted their intent to sign another veteran this offseason by showing some interest in DeMar DeRozan, pursuing the former All-Star swingman along with teams such as Miami and Denver," The Stein Line's Marc Stein wrote.
For the Nuggets, the appeal is obvious. DeRozan still gives an offense plenty to work with because of his ability to create his own shot, and Nikola Jokic should help manufacture clean looks for him during games. Defensively, he won’t bring much, but Denver is banking on the scoring punch.
DeRozan arrives in Denver with 17 years of NBA experience and $305 million earned over his career. He is also a six-time All-Star, and the Nuggets are hoping that another proven scorer can help them avoid another first-round exit this season.
In Other News...
Heat Title Hype Now Hinges On One Big Roster Question
The Heat have spent the offseason reshaping their roster with an unmistakable win-now edge, adding proven championship experience and keeping Andrew Wiggins in the fold on a new extension. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. are among the names now linked to Miami, a clear sign the organization is pushing its chips in ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season and trying to build a group with real playoff bite.
The biggest remaining question is how much farther the front office can go in turning that talent into a finished contender. Klay Thompson is reportedly working through a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks and is expected to land in Miami, which would add another veteran scorer and a very different kind of floor-spacing threat to a roster already undergoing major change. What happens next could determine whether this summer is remembered as a strong setup or the point when the Heat finally push the project over the top. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompsons Next Role Just Reshaped Miamis Free Agency Plans
Miamis offseason plan has started to tilt around a familiar kind of question for this front office: fit. With Klay Thompson expected to land in South Florida on a two-year deal after his buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, the Heat are looking at a lineup that adds more shooting and spacing, and that new shape appears to have influenced how theyve approached the rest of free agency.
DeMar DeRozan reportedly viewed that arrangement as part of the problem, since the Heats roster composition and Thompsons anticipated role at shooting guard made it hard to see where DeRozan would slot in cleanly. He ultimately chose Denver instead, leaving Miami with a clearer picture of what it wants, even if the ripple effects of that decision are still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Still Have One Important Roster Move Left
The Heat have been busy reshaping the roster, and the additions of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson have given Miami a far different look heading into the season. Even with those headline moves, there is still a practical question hanging over the group: how to shore up the bench after losing several players and keep the rotation from looking thin once the season gets rolling.
Miami still has two open roster spots, and one of them could be used before opening night to give the team a little more balance. Nick Richards would address size and interior depth, Bruce Brown Jr. would bring versatility and defensive help, and Ochai Agbaji offers another kind of wing option, leaving the Heat with a decision that could shape how sturdy the roster feels beyond the top names. [Read more 🡒]