RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 2: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets boxes out DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings during the game on November 22, 2025 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets have made limited offseason moves as they look to navigate the looming second-apron woes . DeMar DeRozan’s $3.9 million signing in free agency is only their second key addition this summer after Marvin Bagley. It’s only a $2.5 million hit to their salary cap.
But DeRozan fills a major gap that Peyton Watson’s trade to the Cavaliers earlier this week had created .
Here’s what most experts anticipate will be the Nuggets’ projected starting five in 2026-27 after DeMar DeRozan joins the roster. The Nuggets needed a starting-caliber swingman to replace Peyton Watson , and DeRozan is expected to play that role.
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: Cameron Johnson
PF: Aaron Gordon
C: Nikola Jokic
Let’s also look at the Denver Nuggets’ updated depth chart to better understand whether it is feasible for DeRozan to transition back into the shooting guard role he played for most of his early career with the Raptors.
Point Guards: Jamal Murray, Tyus Jones, KJ Simpson
Shooting Guards: DeMar DeRozan, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, Lonnie Walker IV
Small Forwards: Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones, Alpha Diallo
Power Forwards: Aaron Gordon, Trevon Brazile
Center: Nikola Jokic, Marvin Bagley III, Zeke Nnaji, DaRon Holmes II
One of the best things about adding a veteran swingman like DeRozan to the roster is that he provides the flexibility to also play in the small and power forward roles depending on the matchup.
This gives David Adelman’s coaching staff much more flexibility to use DeRozan in versatile ways throughout the season. The biggest question here for the Denver Nuggets is whether to start DeMar DeRozan or Christian Braun in the shooting guard role.
The 37-year-old DeRozan is coming off the 2025-26 season with the Kings, where he averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 49.7% from the field and 32.0% from behind the three-point line.
Christian Braun is coming off an injury-riddled season in which his numbers fell to 11.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 51.1% from the floor and 31.2% from beyond the arc.
But mind you, he was the fourth option in scoring for the Nuggets at best all season, while DeRozan was arguably never below the third option in scoring for the Kings on a nightly basis.
Therefore, solely going off of DeRozan’s veteran experience and better numbers in scoring, he should start the game in the shooting guard position. But we can trust the Nuggets’ coaching staff to manage the minutes rotation, so Christian Braun also ends up playing between 25 and 30 minutes per night.
The key is for the 25-year-old Braun to buy into the vision that the 37-year-old DeRozan is only here for one season as of now, so this does not mean the Nuggets no longer have faith in him.
However, DeRozan starting over Braun could be key to whatever championship ambitions Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets have in the near future. As long as Braun buys into that vision, there could be a way out of this second apron problem for the Denver Nuggets.
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