By all accounts, the Denver Nuggets' title window has been shrinking more and more each year. It can never be closed as long as the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic suiting up night after night. But after an ugly first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves and a lackluster offseason of building around Jokic, it's easy to feel like the window is closed. It's not. And thanks to the veteran members of the Nuggets, that window is open at least another year, thanks to their recruitment of DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan may not be the full answer, but there wasn't another free agent on the market in the Nuggets' price range besides LeBron James who would offer as much upside. The Nuggets were on King James' shortlist, but when he decided to pick the Philadelphia 76ers over the Nuggets, they focused on DeRozan, the six-time All-Star who's 16th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
It was a 'team' effort to convince DeRozan that Denver was the right spot for him. DeRozan was interviewed by Mirin Fadar of The Athletic, who confirmed that the Nuggets veterans Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon pitched Denver to DeRozan.
"Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray all called him before he signed with the team, which meant a lot to DeRozan. That played a part in him wanting to sign with the Nuggets. These new teammates, like him, understand what it means to be a veteran -- to be conscious of the window getting smaller," Fader wrote.
The window may be getting "smaller" for both DeRozan and the Nuggets, but it's still cracked open.
DeRozan should excel with the Nuggets
Sure, DeRozan's 37. Sure, his defense is questionable at best, and bad at worst. But who could the Nuggets have found on the market for a veteran's minimum who can score 20 points off the bench any given night? DeRozan probably won't be asked to do it, but he can when needed. That's a nice luxury to have when you're chasing a title.
DeRozan's also a much better passer and facilitator than most are giving him credit for. He stepped into that role at the request of one of the most legendary coaches the game has ever known, Gregg Popovich, when DeRozan was with the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 6.2, 5.9, and 6.9 assists per game over his three seasons with the Spurs, and he even put up 4.1 last year as a primary scorer with the Sacramento Kings.
DeRozan's got a high basketball IQ. He's been around the game a long time, and even though he's edging toward the final chapter of his basketball career, he's still got time to add the penultimate one to his book by helping the Nuggets to a championship.
DeRozan was a free agent. He could have signed anywhere. The Nuggets offered him a chance to write that chapter. And as long as he's got Jokic by his side this season, the Nuggets' window remains open for that chance.
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