Sources: DeRozan joining Nuggets on 1-year deal

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Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan has agreed to sign with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year, $3.9 million deal, sources told ESPN.

DeRozan landed on the Nuggets after speaking to the Miami Heat, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans during free agency, choosing a significant role in Denver and a chance to compete in the West. The Nuggets front office and coaches made a strong recruitment effort in recent weeks to secure DeRozan's commitment, showing him how he would compliment Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as an additional playmaker.

There was mutual interest between DeRozan and the Heat, and Bam Adebayo and DeRozan communicated throughout the summer, sources said. But the Heat ultimately made Klay Thompson its first priority, and are expected to sign Thompson once he clears waivers after a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN.

With the Kings needing to trim salary, the franchise waived DeRozan earlier this offseason, making him a free agent. He had only $10 of his $25.7 million deal guaranteed for 2026-27.

Multiple teams had pursued DeRozan, who hit free agency as one of the top players on the market.

DeRozan remained one of the most reliable scorers in the league in his 17th NBA season, averaging 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting. Before this past year, he had averaged at least 20 points in 12 straight seasons.

DeRozan also appeared in all but five games last season , continuing a career-long trend of availability. He's appeared in at least 70 games in each of the past five seasons.

After starring in Toronto for nine years, DeRozan spent three seasons in San Antonio and then three more in Chicago before he landed in Sacramento in 2024.