Jeremy Sochan Released By Spurs, Plans To Sign With Knicks

Jeremy Sochan was released by the San Antonio Spurs and plans to sign with the New York Knicks after clearing waivers.

The Spurs announced Sochan’s release on Feb. 11. According to ESPN, the Spurs attempted to trade Sochan at the trade deadline but couldn’t find any takers. The Spurs will need to pay the final year of his four-year rookie contract.

The Knicks currently have 14 full-time players, meaning they won’t need to release anyone to add Sochan to the roster. The Knicks plan to add Sochan in hopes of improving their No. 10-ranked defense. 

Sochan was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Spurs. Out of the draft, scouts thought that he’d be a Kyle Kuzma-like player. However, Sochan’s jump shot has not developed to anywhere near Kuzma’s, let alone become a good shooter. With Victor Wembanyama‘s development, Sochan has found it difficult to secure consistent playing time.

Sochan’s saving grace is his defense. Despite box plus-minus seeing him as an overall negative value player, he has a positive defensive box plus-minus this season.

Starting power forward OG Anunoby is currently day-to-day with a toe injury. The Knicks hope that the All-Star break will help heal this injury. If not, Sochan could slide into the power forward slot. Previously, when Anunoby was out, the Knicks either ran a double-point guard or double-big lineup. Trade-deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado plays in the double-point guard lineup, while Mitchell Robinson plays in the double-big lineup. 

The Knicks currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors are within three games of them. The Cavaliers made a big move at the deadline to trade for James Harden. Meanwhile, the Raptors focused on salary management and traded away Ochai Agbaji to the Brooklyn Nets.