nuggets
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While some around the NBA feel the Denver Nuggets’ signing of six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan was a good move, ESPN’s Tim McMahon seems to hate it.
This has been a very quiet offseason for the Nuggets. However, that isn’t a major surprise. Denver has some expensive contracts that were always expected to be tough to move — we are looking at you, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun. And if they couldn’t offload those deals, they would have little to no flexibility to improve the roster.
However, over the last few days the team has made some headlines. After it became clear they would be unable to re-sign two-way talent Peyton Watson, they agreed to a multi-team sign-and-trade that landed them a couple of future draft picks.
Following the deal, the Nuggets responded by making their first addition of the offseason when they agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with DeRozan. On paper, it seems like a good move to add a player who scored just over 18 points a game last year in Sacramento. But McMahon noted his concerns about the signing during a new edition of the Hoop Collective.
“Can we discuss the potential fit of DeRozan with the Nuggets because I think it’s, honestly, pretty clunky.”
– Tim McMahon
The veteran NBA insider understands the Nuggets needed more scoring. Plus, the guard is expected to come off the bench, a role McMahon believes DeRozan is a good fit for him at this point in his career. However, he still has doubts about whether his style of play will work in Denver with top star Nikola Jokic.
But that pales in comparison to the problem McMahon believes they will have on defense with DeRozan and Jokic on the floor together.
“I get it, they need scoring. They need a guy who can prop up the offense and give it some kind of life in the 14 minutes or so that Joker’s sitting. But I don’t think you can play DeRozan with Joker because DeRozan needs the ball. He doesn’t space it. He’s not a cutter. He doesn’t do any of the things you really need to thrive off of Joker. And then that duo defensively stinks worse than morning breath after a 12-pack of Coors Light. I mean, my god.”
– Tim McMahon
Do you agree? Is the combination of DeRozan and Jokic setting up to be a very big disappointment for the Nuggets next season?