DeMar DeRozan's Perfect Fit Isn't With Who You Think

The NBA free agency market has been more interesting this Summer than it has in a long time, and though most of the biggest names are off the board, there are still some pretty big names who are currently without a team.

One of the biggest names left on the market is DeMar DeRozan, who was waived by the Sacramento Kings a few weeks ago. Even though DeRozan is not what he used to be, it’s a bit odd to see a player like him go as long as he has on the market with seemingly no interest from any team.

So how is it possible that DeMar DeRozan could find himself in the position he is currently in, when most logical NBA fans can look at him and see that he still has a lot to give to any team in the league?

Why Has No One Signed DeMar DeRozan?

It has now been over a month since DeMar DeRozan was waived by Sacramento, and shockingly no one has signed him yet. 

And to be honest, there is no good reason as to why he hasn’t been picked up yet.

It’s not like he is demanding a huge number on his contract; he isn’t a player who negatively affects his team’s on-court potential or success; he isn’t a known diva who negatively affects teams off the court with drama and nonsense; he’s not completely washed and doesn’t have a very bad injury history. 

There really isn’t anything to lose by signing DeMar DeRozan. 

In fact, he’s one of the lowest-risk, highest-reward players you could find on the market right now. You’re getting a guy who is going to give you an automatic 18 points per game or at least close to it whether he’s in the starting lineup or coming off the bench and he fits into a lot of different systems. 

If there is a guy out there who has proven to be one of the best scorers in the history of the league and you know he’s not going to break the bank, you have to go get him.

But which team makes the most sense?

Denver Needs A Player Like DeRozan

The Nuggets’ situation is beginning to look very bleak with each passing day that Jokic and Murray get older and make more money and Aaron Gordon piles up injuries that hurt his effectiveness. 

The Nuggets are pretty thin roster-wise, so a still-great scoring punch in DeRozan is exactly what they need to lessen the load on their two stars. He provides Denver a solid third option to just put the ball in the basket and do some of the little things, which could drastically shift the outlook for them this season.

The big problem is that they’re handicapped financially, and even though DeRozan wouldn’t demand much more than a vet-minimum, the Nuggets quite literally have no room to make a signing for him happen unless they sacrifice a currently rostered player.

But it’s a chance that Denver needs to take.

There is enough playmaking on this team to get the most out of a scorer like DeRozan and have him looking like the best version of himself. And these days, a reliable scorer is something that can be hard to come by, but it is necessary if you want to win at the highest level.