Nuggets already making smart business decision with DeMar DeRozan

The addition of DeMar DeRozan for the Denver Nuggets was a move that was as savvy as it was confounding. After all, the team was already booming with firepower on the offensive end, yet the former All-Star ended up costing just chump change to sign anyway, and that is hard to argue against in the grand scheme of things.

Finding a role for DeRozan was going to be a tricky proposition for Denver's brain trust given that the team had an opening at shooting guard, yet his fit with the starters seemed iffy. Having said that, it appears that the coaching staff has already laid down a solid plan for the veteran, which is to have him come off the bench this season.

Scrimmage clips show the Nuggets deploying DeMar DeRozan with the bench players

A recent video clip from the Nuggets scrimmage shows DeRozan spending time with the bench guys, suggesting that the coaches have decided to have the six-time All-Star function as their nominal sixth man moving forward.

While that is a tough choice to make, it is simply the most logical way to use him at this juncture. DeRozan is still a highly efficient scorer, but his lack of three-point shooting and porous defense make him a better fit with the bench instead of the starters.

The Nuggets already had the best offense in the league last season, and with DeRozan leading their second-unit attack, they might just be able to replicate that. The veteran should be able to feast against inferior competition with opposing bench players with his dependable scoring and playmaking, giving Denver a distinct advantage against most teams.

DeRozan has way too much pedigree to demote to the second unit, but the Nuggets doing that is actually the best way to make use of his gifts given how they are constructed. It is a gutsy move all right, but it sure is one smart business decision with the former All-Star.