The Denver Nuggets have made another major move this offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. The veteran forward had been one of the more intriguing free agents still available, and Denver emerged as his destination after trading Peyton Watson to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

For the Nuggets, the signing is about much more than adding another recognizable name. DeRozan gives Denver something it desperately needs: another proven scorer who can create offense when Nikola Jokić or Jamal Murray aren’t carrying the load.

DeRozan is entering his 18th NBA season at 37 years old, but he is still capable of producing at a high level. Last season with Sacramento, he averaged 18.4 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He also played 77 games, continuing an impressive stretch of durability.

That scoring ability could be extremely valuable for Denver.

For years, the Nuggets have relied heavily on Jokić and Murray to generate offense, particularly when games slow down in the playoffs. DeRozan gives head coach David Adelman another player who can simply get the ball, attack his matchup and create a quality shot.

That becomes even more dangerous when you consider who will be on the floor with him.

Defenses already have to worry about Jokić’s passing and scoring from virtually anywhere on the court. Murray remains a dangerous shot-maker, and now DeRozan can attack the same defense from the mid-range, draw fouls and create his own offense.

The fit isn’t perfect, of course.

DeRozan isn’t known for his three-point shooting, which means Denver will need to be thoughtful about lineups and spacing. But the Nuggets aren’t necessarily asking him to become a floor-spacing specialist. Instead, they can use him as a secondary creator and isolation scorer, particularly with bench-heavy units.

That role could be incredibly important.

Denver lost Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade with Cleveland, receiving a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2032 second-round pick in the deal. DeRozan doesn’t replace Watson’s defensive versatility, but he does give the Nuggets an immediate source of veteran scoring to help fill the void on the wing.

And the price makes this move even more appealing.

A one-year deal worth just $3.9 million for a six-time All-Star is a relatively low-risk move for a team trying to maximize its championship window.

Denver doesn’t need DeRozan to be the player who carried entire offenses in Chicago or San Antonio. It simply needs him to provide efficient scoring, veteran leadership and another option when Jokić is double-teamed or Murray isn’t creating enough.

If DeRozan can embrace that role, this could become one of the smartest veteran additions of the offseason.

The Nuggets already have one of the best players in the world in Jokić. Adding another experienced scorer around him for just $3.9 million could give Denver exactly what it needs as it looks to return to the top of the Western Conference.

DeRozan doesn’t have to be the star in Denver. He just has to make life easier for the stars already there.