For Raptors fans craving more nostalgia alongside their feel-good Kawhi Leonard reunion, unfortunately, the major name leading that talk (DeMar DeRozan) is officially off the table.
DeRozan has been a top option left in the slim 2026 NBA free agent pool, drawing interest from multiple contenders as a serviceable veteran addition. The Raptors were also rumored to be a team with interest after he was waived by the Sacramento Kings in early July. DeRozan’s status as an iconic franchise face and reports of easing feelings on both sides for a return only fueled the rumors.
Similarly, when DeRozan’s partner in crime during his Raptors days, Kyle Lowry, signed a one-day contract to retire with the franchise on July 7 (just a day after DeRozan was waived) — it added another key layer to what could be quietly shaping up as another piece in the Raptors nostalgia puzzle.
But alas, the second run just wasn’t meant to be.
NBA insider Chris Haynes broke the news on Friday afternoon that the six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA member intended to sign with the Denver Nuggets. ESPN’s Shams Charania later highlighted the deal’s details, reporting on X that DeRozan agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract to join the 2022-23 championship squad. The Nuggets quickly turned to DeRozan as a target after Peyton Watson’s departure, leaving a clear hole in their wing depth chart. DeRozan emerged as perhaps their best free agent option to help fill the void.
DeRozan joining the Nuggets shuts the door on Raptors reunion for ambitious 2026-27 campaign
Haynes was the one to report that a few days ago, and in the aftermath of DeRozan's official news joining Denver, he noted on X: “DeMar DeRozan has been in conversations with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray and is anxious for the opportunity to play for a contending team, sources say. Denver adds another veteran clutch bucket-getter.”
In a piece I wrote the other day, I looked at some of the pros and cons of adding DeMar DeRozan to the current Raptors setup. With the Denver rumors heating up, I also considered how he might fit with that squad, which desperately needs proven depth to complement Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. As many others have pointed out since this deal emerged, DeRozan’s addition isn’t quite the needle-mover a team teetering on the edge of potential collapse was looking for. Still, the Nuggets didn’t have many options left to consider, nor a ton of financial flexibility or assets to bargain with that entice rival teams at this point in the offseason twilight zone.
To play a bit of devil's advocate for DeMar DeRozan, despite being 37 and on the downturn of his NBA journey, we're still talking about a player who just put up 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 77 games with the Kings. Yeah, I get it’s the Sacramento Kings, but even as a starter (regardless of whether those numbers translate directly to winning) — DeRozan remains a guy who can put up the stats, even at this stage of his career.
It was that little dilemma that added a hint of potential difficulty to a rumored Raptors reunion, as he would likely have to take a backseat given the current Raptors playbook and coaching scheme. While still a capable starter, the present-day Raptors probably wouldn’t offer DeRozan the starting spotlight he might still crave at this stage of his career, likely shifting him to a key bench role or even a lesser position behind Toronto’s promising young players.
The way I see it, this Nuggets signing might be DeRozan’s last real shot to prove he can still be a key part of a winning team — a chance that was already fading during his weak Kings stint and the later days of his Bulls run. If DeRozan can find success with Denver in this final push, you really can’t blame him for making that move. Plus, from a Raptors fan’s perspective, it’s probably better that he stays in the West rather than returning to the East to join those other suitors like the Heat or Wizards.
I still like to think there’s a chance DeRozan could come back to Toronto to finish his NBA journey. Should he decide to continue his playing career, then expect the Raptors to once again circulate as a top landing spot in free agency, or DeRozan opts to directly follow in Kyle Lowry’s footsteps with a one-day contract farewell in Toronto.
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