The Denver Nuggets are adding a 2014 All-Star from the 2009 NBA Draft—37-year-old shooting guard DeMar DeRozan to a 1-year, $3.9M contract.
After sending their breakout wing Peyton Watson to Cleveland for a first-round draft pick one day, eventually, Denver found his replacement, the star of a 22-win Kings team that waived him in July to save a few bucks.
[RELATED: Nuggets Trade Only Talented, Young, Athletic Wing to Cleveland For a Kid Currently in High School]Last season ended with Timberwolves mauling them, Denver’s doubling down, getting older, slower, slamming the brakes, Jokic and DeRozan eating possessions in the half-court, all 24 seconds used each time, games played in quicksand.
How do you beat the young, athletic Spurs, Timberwolves and Thunder? Old man strength.
Signing Grade: A
A second ago, the Nuggets had no one coming off the bench. Now they have the 16th-leading scorer in NBA history—who averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .497/.321/.868 shooting in 77 games last season with Sacramento.
His free attempts dropped from around 7 and a half each season to 5 in Sacramento—but I figure in an environment where winning’s expected, DeMar will get to the rim more. No one wants to fly back to Sacramento with a sore shoulder from trying Jalen Duren at the cup and an L on top.
He may be more effective next season playing fewer than his 31.7 minutes last season. Give his old bones a rest. Plus, less taxing iso attempts now sharing a lineup with an offensive ATM, spraying $20 bills all over the court each night. Way different than playing with Zach LaVine—a man who’d ideally be playing with 4 other Zach LaVines but must settle for the peons he’s trapped on Earth with.
But those DeRozan iso attempts crucial come crunch time.
If Denver can preserve the player drafted in the first year of Obama’s presidency—keeping him fresh for the postseason to serve as a hit in case of emergency offense button, capable of getting a decent midrange jumper off on anyone—the Nuggets could tread water against the big dogs, praying Jokic exhausts his mutant abilities each game for last-second pyrrhic victories.
An A grade. A minimum deal for a guy who could win them a playoff series.
Good shit.
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