DeMar DeRozan’s next move still hasn’t landed, but the list of possible destinations is changing. What once looked like a race with the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors now has the Denver Nuggets pushing into the picture, and the latest reporting suggests Denver is serious about trying to bring the former Kings forward out West.
Sacramento’s offseason has already moved on from a few veterans, including DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, and both exits were handled with the understanding that each player was chasing a contender in free agency. Westbrook’s recent retirement changed one part of that equation. DeRozan, though, is still on the market, and his future remains open.
The Nuggets have become the team to watch after a run of recent moves. They’ve been dealing with injuries and playoff disappointments since winning the NBA Championship in 2023, and according to ClutchPoints National NBA Insider & Reporter Brett Siegel, they are “motivated” to add DeRozan for another shot of offense. Siegel also reported that Denver would “welcome” the idea, even if the financial path is tricky.
That cap situation is the biggest hurdle. Denver remains capped out because of recent extensions and other moves, even after parting ways with Peyton Watson on Thursday, who had been a restricted free agent.
DeRozan, meanwhile, is reportedly looking for more than a minimum-type deal after his buyout with the Kings. The Miami Herald noted that the six-time All Star is seeking an exception level contract, and Spotrac lists the 2026-2027 exception contract at north of $15 million, which appears close to what he wants.
Miami is still in the mix, but its pursuit of Klay Thompson could narrow DeRozan’s options even further.
If Denver can make it work, DeRozan would give Nikola Jokic’s team another proven scorer and a veteran who has been through plenty of playoff battles. He’s not the same explosive finisher he once was, but the production is still there. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 18.4 points per game this season while shooting 49.7 percent from the field, his fifth career season at 49 percent or better.
He’s also remained remarkably steady on the availability front, appearing in 74 or more games in each of the last five seasons. And with another season like the one he just posted, DeRozan is closing in on Shaquille O'Neal for a spot in the top 10 all-time scoring list.
For a Nuggets team trying to squeeze every ounce out of Jokic’s prime, DeRozan’s scoring touch and playoff mileage would fit the idea of making one more push.
In Other News...
Kings Now Face Serious Off-Court Questions Involving Familiar Names
A civil lawsuit filed by former Sacramento Kings assistant athletic trainer Crystal Lee has put several familiar names back in the spotlight, this time far away from the court and the locker room. Lees complaint targets the Kings business entity and Senior Director of Athletic Health Jaspreet Randhawa, and it lays out allegations of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, adding another off-court matter for the franchise to navigate.
The Kings have denied all allegations and said they will vigorously defend themselves against the claims, but the filing also brings General Manager Scott Perry and Assistant Coach Doug Christie into the narrative, even though neither is named as a defendant. For a team trying to keep its focus on basketball, the broader concern is how far the dispute could reach and what else may come out as the case moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Now Face Serious Allegations About Their Workplace Culture
A former assistant athletic trainer has taken the Kings to court, turning a workplace dispute into a much larger test of the organizations culture and how it handles employee complaints. Crystal Lees lawsuit accuses the team and its senior director of athlete health, Jaspreet Randhawa, of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, with the filing alleging she was pushed down the ladder, cut out of her duties and ultimately fired after speaking up.
For a franchise that has worked to project stability, the case lands in a sensitive spot because it puts internal treatment of staff under a public microscope. The Kings have denied the allegations and say they will vigorously defend against them, but the claims raise the kind of questions that can linger well beyond the courtroom and force a closer look at how the workplace operates behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Backcourt Problem Has Jerry Reynolds Leaning One Way
The Kings still have a backcourt vacancy to sort through, and with limited financial flexibility and open roster spots on the table, the search for a veteran point guard has become one of the more practical questions of their offseason. Sacramento is expected to bring in incoming draft pick Darius Acuff Jr., but the need for someone who can steady the position behind him has kept Cameron Payne, Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo in the conversation as possible fits.
Former Kings general manager Jerry Reynolds weighed those names with an eye toward experience and what the team actually needs, and his view pointed in one direction. Payne and Payton offer different kinds of point guard seasoning, while Oladipo brings a broader resume that makes him a more complicated option, especially for a club trying to make a careful roster decision. For the Kings, the issue is not just adding another body at guard, but finding the right veteran presence without tying up resources they do not have to spare. [Read more 🡒]