For Toronto Raptors fans dreaming of a nostalgic fairy-tale reunion to pair alongside the much-discussed Kawhi Leonard homecoming, the dream has officially come to an end. The most prominent name left sitting in the late-summer 2026 NBA free agent pool is officially off the market.
DeMar DeRozan, who was waived by the Sacramento Kings in early July, has officially found his new home. Despite heavy rumors linking the franchise icon back to Toronto—especially in the wake of Kyle Lowry signing a symbolic one-day contract to retire with the organization—DeRozan has chosen a different path in pursuit of his elusive championship ring.
The Denver Deal: Chasing a Ring with Jokic
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, DeRozan intends to sign with the Denver Nuggets, a move quickly confirmed by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported that the veteran guard agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the 2022-23 champions.
The Nuggets aggressively targeted DeRozan as their primary free-agent option to bolster their wing depth following Peyton Watson’s departure. Haynes reported that DeRozan had extensive conversations with Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray, expressing immense excitement about joining a legitimate title contender and providing Denver with another proven, clutch scorer off the bench.
For the Raptors, a reunion always carried a tricky set of logistical hurdles. While DeRozan remains an offensive machine—coming off a season in Sacramento where he averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals across 77 games—fitting him into Toronto’s current timeline and playbook would have been complicated.
With head coach Darko Rajaković prioritizing young, high-energy development and ball movement, DeRozan likely wouldn’t have commanded the guaranteed starting spotlight or usage rate he might still desire at this stage of his career, potentially relegating him to a specialized bench role behind Toronto’s emerging core.
A Smart Fit and a Potential Final Chapter
At 37 years old, joining Denver represents perhaps the final realistic opportunity for DeRozan to prove he can serve as a vital, winning piece on a championship-caliber roster. After turbulent stints with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento, a fresh start in the high-altitude environment of Denver alongside an unselfish playmaker like Jokic makes absolute sense.
From a purely practical standpoint for Raptors fans, seeing DeRozan head to the Western Conference is far more palatable than watching him sign with an Eastern Conference rival like the Miami Heat or Washington Wizards, both of whom had also expressed varying degrees of interest.
While a second playing stint in the Sixix wasn’t meant to be for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign, the door on DeRozan’s relationship with Toronto is never truly closed. Whether he eventually decides to follow Kyle Lowry’s exact blueprint by signing a one-day contract to retire in a Raptors jersey, or if another short-term opportunity opens down the line, DeRozan’s legacy as a franchise legend remains untouched.
For now, Toronto fans will turn their full attention toward the youthful energy and high-stakes drama of their current roster, while wishing their former franchise icon the best of luck out West!
