BREAKING NEWS: Denver Nuggets Among Favorites to Land Veteran Star in Offseason Trade
The Denver Nuggets bowed out of the 2025 NBA Playoffs following a disappointing Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, there can be some comfort found in that elimination.
The Nuggets pushed the Thunder to the limit in their series. Despite the one-sided beatdown in the final game, Denver can walk away feeling like they are closer to a championship than most figure.
Considering the Thunder are one win away from the NBA Finals, the Nuggets may realistically be a couple of genuine improvements from reinserting themselves firmly into the title picture for the 2025-26 season.
Mar 5, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) and center Nikola Jokic (15) react in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena.
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Nuggets favored to land Sacramento Kings star
One of the biggest talking points following the conclusion of the Nuggets season was the lack of support for the best player in the world. Many felt like Nikola Jokic was owed more from his supporting cast.
Paul Pierce was a figure who suggested Jokic needed much more than what guys like Michael Porter Jr. were providing. The name Pierce provided was a player who is now coming up as a favorite for the Nuggets to land this offseason: DeMar DeRozan.
The Nuggets were included among the betting favorites to acquire the Sacramento Kings star. Denver only trailed the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors in the looming DeRozan sweepstakes.
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The reliability that comes with the Kings veteran is something that can be viewed as extremely appealing for a Nuggets team that often struggled with the consistency of Jokic's supporting cast. DeRozan has been steady throughout his NBA career.
For the last 12 seasons, the former lottery pick has delivered at least 20 points per game in every campaign that he's played. Despite some labels as a 'playoff dropper,' DeRozan also averages 21.8 points per game for his postseason career, albeit with worse efficiency than the regular season.
If the expectations are for the six-time All-Star to come in and deliver more than someone like Porter Jr. in a supporting role for Jokic, then DeRozan should indeed be an attractive trade candidate for the Nuggets to pursue this offseason.