Reactions to the Denver Nuggets' DeMar DeRozan signing have been mixed. However, it's hard to overlook how it could help the team overcome one of its biggest problems over the past three seasons: Jamal Murray's subpar play in the playoffs.
Don't get me wrong. Murray has been a key reason the Nuggets have been above .600 in each of the previous three regular seasons. He even secured his first-ever All-Star berth in 2026.
Unfortunately, he just hasn't been the same on the big stage after breaking out in the 2020 playoffs, which earned him the moniker "Bubble Murray," and aiding Denver in bringing home the championship in 2023 with averages of 26.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 39.6 percent from three over that year's postseason.
Mal's noticeable struggles
To be fair to the star point guard, putting up at least 20.6 points per contest in each of the past three playoffs is nothing to scoff at.
What has been concerning, though, is the significant dip in his shooting efficiency. Last season was the worst, as he sank just 35.7 percent of his attempts from the field and 26.2 percent from long distance.
With Murray being unable to draw defensive attention away from Nikola Jokic and punish opponents for overcommitting on defense, the Nuggets' offense stagnated. It hasn't helped that they have also had to deal with injuries to key players at some point and have lacked another reliable shot creator beyond Jokic and Murray in the past few years.
DeMar addition should help
Hopefully, the 29-year-old playmaker can get back to his old self once the playoffs start again. But if he can't, at least the Nuggets will have DeRozan to pep up the offense and take some pressure off Jokic and Murray.
Some might say that the 37-year-old star is already washed. The stats and eye test prove otherwise, though. He recorded 20.3 points per game in his two campaigns suiting up (and moonlighting as a power forward) for a dysfunctional Sacramento Kings squad. It's worth noting that the last time he appeared in the playoffs was in 2022 with the Chicago Bulls. Still, the six-time All-Star's skill set, experience, and leadership should only raise the Nuggets' championship ceiling.
Perhaps a major concern with the DeRozan acquisition, aside from the possible defensive shortcomings he brings, is that it's just a temporary fix to a persistent problem for the Nuggets. There's no youngster or prospect on the roster who can create shots for himself or others and potentially take over in the playoffs.
But then again, it's not like the franchise has plenty of choices, given the lack of options this summer and its financial situation. Hopefully, though, DeRozan can help stem the tide, and a long-term solution will present itself in the near future.
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