The Denver Nuggets needed another wing who can replace what they’ve lost this offseason on a cheap contract, and they’ve decided to go for a veteran wing scorer.

According to Chris Haynes, the Nuggets are adding DeMar DeRozan to solve some of those problems.

DeRozan, 37, has a long, long history of getting buckets in the NBA. He currently ranks 18th in NBA history with 26,711 points scored in his career. Everywhere he’s gone, DeRozan has been a consistent scorer with improved efficiency in his favorite spots on the floor.

The last couple of seasons he has spent with the Sacramento Kings and averaged 20.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. Regardless of efficiency or defensive concerns, DeRozan has been productive and consistent, playing 77 games in each of the two seasons while averaging 33.6 minutes per contest.

DeRozan has been a starter in each and every one of those games, but for the Nuggets, it should be expected that DeRozan will transition into a high usage bench role. The Nuggets just let go of Peyton Watson because their five starters – Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Christian Braun – are all locked into expensive contracts.

DeRozan isn’t going to change that, but it doesn’t mean that he can’t play a significant role similar to the one Russell Westbrook played for Denver in 2024-25. Westbrook averaged 27.9 minutes per game for Denver while starting in 36 games and playing 75. His usage and ball handling responsibilities stayed relatively consistent despite playing fewer minutes as a sixth man.

DeRozan has an easy path off Denver’s bench to replicate that role. With Tyus Jones, Julian Strawther, Spencer Jones, and Marvin Bagley III all expected to fill bench roles, the Nuggets needed a player who could absorb scoring usage and responsibility on the second unit. Rather than staggering a starter, DeRozan’s addition makes sense.

Is DeRozan a better player than Watson? Probably not, and he certainly is on the other side of his career while Watson’s role will continue to increase. Still, DeRozan remains a very helpful veteran, and it will be up to the Nuggets to find the lineups and responsibilities that make the most sense for him heading into the 2026-27 season.

For now, expect that role to be as a high usage sixth man to inject some offense off the bench when Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray need a lift from the second unit.