Nuggets Have Reportedly Had Eyes on DeMar DeRozan for Months

The Denver Nuggets finally made their major move of the offseason by signing six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan to a one-year, $3.9 million contract and it seems like Denver's pursuit of DeRozan was a long time coming. 

Adding DeRozan not only brings more experience to the Denver roster as well as some more offensive versatility and considering that the Nuggets are working on a limited budget with their payroll brushing up against the second apron, signing DeRozan to a small deal works perfectly for the Nuggets' short-term goals.

That's why the Nuggets were so keen on bringing DeRozan aboard, and according to a report from the Denver Post, the Nuggets have been monitoring DeRozan's situation since February, anticipating that DeRozan would be released by the Sacramento Kings sooner or later and the Nuggets were ready to buy-out his contract if the opportunity arose. 

As the article further explained, the Nuggets created a recruitment team including players like Aaron Gordon and coaches like assistant coach Jared Dudley, who were both critical members of the recruitment team, a source close to DeRozan told the post. 

This kind of long-term pursuit is not only indicative of the Nuggets' interest in DeRozan, but it may shed a light into why the Nuggets have been so inactive overall this offseason, including their stagnated pursuit of Peyton Watson that ended in a sign-and-trade deal.

Watson appeared to be the Nuggets' primary target in free agency when the offseason began, but as time went on it became less likely that the Nuggets would actually be able to sign him themselves and were instead pivoting to a sign-and-trade to get some assets for Watson instead. 

With the revelation that the Nuggets were monitoring DeRozan's situation for so long, the Nuggets may have always been planning to sign DeRozan as consolation for losing Watson, though the Nuggets maybe weren't anticipating Watson having such a major breakout year last season that made him so valuable as a free agent. 

Either way, the Nuggets have not only gotten some asset value out of Watson, even if it meant parting ways with the homegrown talent that they saw break out so triumphantly. 

DeRozan still looks like a contract that the Nuggets had to settle for to make up for the loss of Watson that they may have seen coming for a long time, but the fact that they've been so prepared to bring DeRozan in for so long does say a lot about the Nuggets mindset right now and could reveal a focus on short-term contracts moving forward.

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain (8) defends in the first half at Kia Center. Russell Lansford-Imagn Images

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots the ball against Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images