DENVER — DeMar DeRozan has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets worth the veteran minimum of $3.9 million, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday.
He has had just two winning seasons since going to the playoffs his last five years with the Raptors. DeRozan made the postseason once with Chicago. See ’s full NBA coverage here
DeRozan, the ninth overall pick by Toronto in 2009, spent his first nine seasons with the Raptors, only to get traded to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard as his former team won the title in Leonard’s only season in 2018-19. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points last season, ending a 12-year run of averaging at least 20 points per game.
The 23-year-old Watson started a career-high 40 games last season and averaged career bests in points , rebounds and assists . Because the agreement hasn’t been announced, the person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It will be DeRozan’s fifth team in his 18th season for a six-time All-Star looking for his first championship. The addition of DeRozan gives the Nuggets a veteran backcourt presence after sending young, versatile wing Peyton Watson to Cleveland as part of a four-team trade.
