DeMar DeRozan's Pen Stroke Reinforces Denver's Core — And the Nuggets' Real Test Moves to the Other End

The Denver Nuggets finally made their loudest offseason statement official this week: DeMar DeRozan signed with the team on September 8, ending weeks of speculation with a signature that shapes Denver's roster for the 2026-27 campaign. Adding a six-time All-Star to a core led by Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon at least quiets the noise from a summer that was otherwise defined by departures and dead ends.

But it also shifts the spotlight onto the question the Nuggets never truly answered.

A summer of turbulence, now with a headliner

Denver's offseason was messy before the calendar flipped to September. The Nuggets traded Peyton Watson to the Cavaliers in a multi-team deal — a move that generated mixed reviews, with some outlets calling it a "self-inflicted setback." The club also watched its LeBron James pursuit end when the star chose the 76ers, and it turned down multiple trade offers for Cam Johnson, signaling the forward is firmly in the rotation plans.

Add to that the persistent drumbeat of criticism: one national piece declared the Nuggets "may have slammed Nikola Jokic's championship window shut," and a FanSided column noted the front office "deserves all the flak they're taking."

DeRozan's arrival changes the tenor. At 18.4 points and 4.1 assists per game last season — shooting 49.7% from the floor and 86.8% from the line over 77 games — he's a proven secondary creator who can run offense in stretches where Jokić or Murray sits. This matters for a roster whose bench creation was one of the season's biggest unanswered questions.

The fit is real, but it's still a one-way street

There's an obvious logic to the pairing. Murray put up 25.4 points per game last year, but he carried a heavy offensive load in Denver's half-court sets. DeRozan's ability to probe the mid-range and draw fouls gives the second unit a weapon that barely existed last season — indeed, one Nuggets writer suggested he should "thrive in the role Nuggets all but confirmed."

The catch: DeRozan connected on just 32% of his threes last season, and the Nuggets' defensive concerns never received a clear solution. Denver scored a blistering 122.1 points per game a year ago on the way to a 54-28 record, but it also allowed 116.9 per night. Analytics and outlet coverage alike described the defense as "the one pressing question their offseason never answered." DeRozan is not going to be the fix for that side of the floor, and at this stage of his career, the minutes he commands will need to be managed alongside Murray and Jokić.

What it means for the season's outlook

Jokić remains the anchor of everything, coming off a 2025 season where he averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in just 65 games. Gordon's availability — he played only 36 contests — remains a swing factor.

The market previews a team capable of winning roughly 49 or 50 games, with the win total set at 49.5 and championship odds in the +2500 range. That pricing suggests the sportsbooks see Denver as a good but not elite contender — a team needing health, better defense, and internal growth to exceed its projection.

DeRozan gives the Nuggets more certainty on offense and a steadier hand off the bench. The real test, however, is whether Denver has done enough to stop the other team. One week into September, only half the puzzle appears solved.