The San Antonio Spurs are getting closer and closer to making a decision. No matter what they do, a large portion of their fanbase will be disgruntled. This summer, they failed to reach an extension with wing/point guard/power forward Jeremy Sochan. Next summer, he will be a restricted free agent.
Most reports point to Sochan “betting on himself,” thinking that he could make more money after a productive season this year. He’s likely right. In his rookie season, the Spurs had no plans of winning as they tanked for Victor Wembanyama. In Wemby’s first season, Sochan was misused, asked to play point guard (the Dallas Mavericks can tell you why that’s a bad idea), and injuries throughout his three seasons have generally kept him from stringing together solid stretches.
On paper, Sochan is an adept cutter, rebounder, and decent ball handler. On the defensive side of the ball, there’s a case to be made that he’s the second-best player on the roster.
Next summer, the Spurs will have to decide once and for all if they see him as a long-term piece. There are still 69 games left in the season to answer that question, but so far, they aren’t doing themselves any favors.
The Spurs Have a Jeremy Sochan Problem
If you’re a Spurs fan, you either love or hate Sochan. His career 3-point percentage and boneheaded offensive mistakes make him hard to like, but his flashy persona, in-your-face attitude, and degree of unpredictability have endeared him to fans.
In many ways, he’s the closest the NBA has come to Dennis Rodman since the 1990s, although Gregg Popovich seems to enjoy the Polish forward more than he ever got along with the Worm.
Popovich is no longer calling the shots from the sidelines. Mission number one for Mitch Johnson is winning as many games as possible on the back of Wembanyama. Mission number two is figuring out what the supporting cast needs to thrive.
On-ball defense, clean ball-handling, and 3-point shooting all seem to be big issues that will have to be solved eventually. Sochan has improved as a playmaker and ball handler, and his defense has never been questioned. However, his 29.4% mark from the 3-point range has kept him off the floor in key moments.
This season, he is averaging career lows in points, rebounds, and assists. He is playing ten fewer minutes per game than ever before, but is making the most of his limited chances.
“On a lot of teams, Jeremy’s probably playing 30-plus minutes,” declared Fox on November 16th. “We have a group of guys who are all bought into whatever their role may be.”
30 minutes on a winning team is a bit of a stretch, but he has slowly added to his repertoire, especially on offense.
He is yet to take an off-the-dribble 3-pointer, instead settling for high-percentage catch-and-shoot 3s. He’s making a blistering 50% of them on limited attempts.
Of course, that’s all to be factored in with a very small sample size. Still, there is reason to believe that the Spurs will have to invest in him next summer.
The Spurs boast a net rating of +6.7 this season, good for fifth in the NBA. When Sochan is on the floor, that number drops to -6.4. However, it can’t be ignored that he isn’t exactly sharing the floor with the best the Spurs have to offer.
His most frequent teammates are Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell. When he shares the court with Wembanyama, the pair is either surrounded by bench players or lacks a traditional point guard. He hasn’t been given the chance to thrive.
Of course, even if Sochan had a career-best campaign this season, he might still be destined for free agency. The Spurs already extended De’Aaron Fox to a max deal, Wembanyama will be getting an extension next summer, and the Spurs have to save money to extend Castle and Dylan Harper when the time comes.
If Sochan can keep knocking down shots at a respectable rate, the Spurs might have no choice but to keep him around, despite their seemingly best efforts to move on from him. The offense isn’t complete, but it’s workable, and the defense remains elite.
Add in the fact that he is willing to go to war (and seems to enjoy doing it!) against anyone in the NBA, and it’s hard to give up on him. The “enforcer” role is still very much alive in the NBA. Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, and Draymond Green have enjoyed long careers playing similar roles.
If Sochan can remain healthy and follow in Vassell and Johnson’s footsteps, taking a team-friendly deal, the Spurs might just keep him around for his vibes and grit. If he can keep proving his value, especially as Johnson’s offense takes a hit and Harrison Barnes prepares for free agency, his long-term spot in San Antonio could still be on the table.
Love him or hate him, the next few months will determine his future. It’s up to the Spurs to give him the chance he deserves to succeed, surrounded by players who maximize him and whom he, in turn, can get the most out of.
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