After yesterday’s multi-team deal sending Peyton Watson to Cleveland, there’s a glaring hole in the Nuggets’ forward depth chart. Watson was a promising young player in Denver’s ranks, and replacing what he brought to the table won’t be easy. Especially this late into the offseason, stretching the situation into mid-August has already taken many of the more alluring targets off the table.
However, Denver might still have a silver lining on the horizon when it comes to a free agent veteran waiting for a new NBA home: DeMar DeRozan.
Nuggets reportedly lasered in on DeMar DeRozan, potentially blocking Raptors reunion hopes
NBA insider Chris Haynes would post on X in light of the Peyton Watson trade: “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.”
Denver has been a top team linked with reported interest in the 37-year-old veteran, alongside the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat. Meanwhile, another storyline that’s been floating around this summer is the possibility of a Raptors comeback for DeMar DeRozan. It's been a speculative rumor that gained even more traction after the Raptors pulled off another feel-good reunion by trading for Kawhi Leonard once again. If the Raptors are all-in on nostalgia runs, why not welcome DeRozan back with open arms too? It could be his storybook ending in the NBA, much like it seems ready for Kawhi.
Some may still hold their DeRozan grievances, but you can’t deny he’s one of the franchise’s all-time greats. This won’t be the DeRozan of old; instead, it’s a chance for the crafty veteran to wind down on the final chapter of his NBA career. It’s also an opportunity for the Raptors to do right by a player who showed immense loyalty to the city and franchise, until the original 2018 Kawhi Leonard trade took him by surprise. While I’m sure a DeRozan reunion would be pretty poetic, I also think it’s important for him to find a landing spot where he can still make the most of his limited time left in the league — both in terms of money and impact.
There’s a really tempting opportunity for DeRozan to join the Nuggets. He’d likely play a significant role there, whether as their primary bench spark or a much-needed secondary or tertiary facilitator. I also see a path for DeRozan to step into the starting lineup, especially considering Denver’s depth issues and their injury history from last year.
And honestly, the idea of a reunion in Toronto feels more like a nostalgic selling point than an optimal fit for the very different Raptors system from the one he knew — no disrespect. That era of the Raptors has come and gone, and the franchise we see today has long moved past the days of DeMar DeRozan — unlike, say, Kawhi Leonard's still tantalizing fit.
Having said that, his fit in Denver isn’t flawless either. DeRozan is far from an ideal defender, nor is he a particularly reliable three-point shooter — two areas of the floor where the Nuggets desperately need reinforcements. Still, Denver has no other choice but to pivot, and aside from DeRozan, their options are pretty slim. This might make them the most aggressive suitor for his services, effectively ruling out the idea of a Raptors reunion.
Although, in the end, it all comes down to what DeRozan believes is best for his career.
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