Veteran NBA forward DeMar DeRozan is reportedly planning to sign a one-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. The deal is valued at $3.9 million, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
DeRozan, who grew up in Compton, California, and played college basketball at USC, has been in communication with Nuggets players Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. He expressed eagerness for the opportunity to play for a team with championship aspirations.
Before reaching this agreement, DeRozan spent the last two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, where he averaged 20.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. The Kings waived him last month.
DeRozan's basketball journey began in Compton, where he attended Compton High School from 2004 to 2008. He was a highly sought-after recruit by USC. After graduating, he played one season for the Trojans before being selected as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors.
His season with USC was notable, leading the team to the Pac-10 tournament final and the second round of the NCAA tournament. DeRozan was named the Pac-10 tournament MVP for his performance in the championship game, scoring 25 points against Arizona State. His No. 10 jersey was retired by USC in February 2020.
DeRozan played his first nine NBA seasons with the Raptors before being traded to acquire Kawhi Leonard for the 2019 season. His No. 23 was retired by Compton High School in 2015. DeRozan has remained involved with his former schools, contributing to improvements for the Compton basketball team, which underwent a reconstruction in 2025.