Spurs Surprisingly Waive Former Top 10 Pick From 2022 NBA Draft

The San Antonio Spurs have waived forward Jeremy Sochan, ending a four-year run that began with optimism, experimentation, and defensive promise before tapering into a diminished role this season.

(Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

The move, announced Wednesday, makes the 22-year-old former lottery pick an unrestricted free agent. Sochan is expected to draw interest from multiple teams after both sides explored trade scenarios ahead of the deadline that did not materialize, according to league reporting.

Sochan acknowledged the difficulty of the past several months, particularly as his minutes evaporated.

“I’m not going to lie to you and say it was rainbows and sunshine all day,” Sochan said. “There’s been moments where it’s very hard. I’ve been in the league for four years and this is kind of the first time where this has happened to me. I can think of all the excuses, why and the reasons. But at the end of the day, it’s important for me to remember who I am.”

He emphasized that maintaining perspective — even when circumstances are unclear — has been central to how he has navigated the situation.

“Even if you can’t see the light, I think if you keep working and put your efforts and your mind in the right place, you’re always going to find it somewhere.”

From All-Rookie Forward To Rotational Squeeze

Drafted ninth overall in 2022 out of Baylor University, Sochan quickly carved out a role as a versatile, switchable defender. He earned All-Rookie honors in 2022-23 after averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 56 games, 53 of them starts.

Across 212 career regular-season games, Sochan averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field. His identity within the Spurs’ structure was clear: defensive disruptor, connective passer, and energy piece capable of guarding multiple positions.

That role evolved during Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season, when San Antonio experimented with Sochan as a de facto point guard. The idea was to leverage his feel and playmaking in space while allowing Wembanyama to operate as a finisher and mismatch nightmare. During that stretch, Sochan delivered flashes of upside, including a 31-point, 14-rebound performance that underscored the intrigue of putting the ball in his hands.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich highly praised Jeremy Sochan, comparing his competitiveness to Manu Ginobili and saying he’ll be “one hell of a player.”

Popovich views Sochan as someone who can play all five positions, but he’s “not Luka, there’s only one of those.”

Is Sochan not… pic.twitter.com/YoIT3J1gnn

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 16, 2023

Ultimately, though, the experiment proved situational rather than foundational. As the roster continued to develop, Sochan settled back into a utility frontcourt role — screening, cutting, making short-roll reads, and anchoring switch-heavy defensive schemes.

Minutes Disappear In Year 4

After averaging at least 25 minutes per game in each of his first three seasons, Sochan’s role shrank dramatically in 2025-26. In 28 games, he averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and one assist in just 12.8 minutes per contest, appearing in more than five minutes only twice since Jan. 7.

The primary catalyst was the emergence of rookie forward Carter Bryant, the No. 14 pick in 2025, who quickly claimed rotation minutes with two-way production and improved perimeter shooting. Bryant’s growth left the Spurs without a consistent pathway for Sochan to reenter the nightly rotation.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson addressed Sochan’s role as recently as Tuesday, praising his professionalism despite the reduced opportunity.

“He’s been asked to be the role of defensive disruptor and to be a versatile piece offensively for us, and nothing has changed in that regard,” Johnson said. “I know Jeremy is wanting to play more, like many of the people that aren’t playing as much and I’m glad that he wants that. That’s the competitive mindset that you have to have to be successful in this league.”

Jeremy Sochan becomes the first Spurs rookie since Tim Duncan in 1998 to put up 29+ points and 11+ rebounds. #PorVida pic.twitter.com/Uoub5eqA8j

— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) March 15, 2023

Johnson was direct about the decision-making process.

“As of right now, he has not been in the rotation, and that’s a decision that I’ve made,” Johnson said. “I expect Jeremy to continue to come to work every day, bring your professionalism, and be a great teammate. He’s done exactly that, and that’s what you have to do in his league. Sometimes your opportunities don’t always come from where you think they’ll come or when you think they’ll come.”

Free Agency Path And Playoff Eligibility

With the waiver complete, Sochan can sign with any team. He was linked in recent weeks to the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, among others, according to multiple reports last month.

Unlike most buyout candidates, Sochan still has two-way eligibility. That distinction could give interested teams added flexibility. A franchise could sign him to a two-way contract initially and later convert him to a standard roster spot ahead of the postseason, depending on performance, health, and roster needs.

At 22, with 212 games of experience and a track record as a multi-positional defender, Sochan represents a low-risk addition for teams seeking frontcourt depth, switchability, and defensive energy during the playoff push.

A New Chapter Ahead

Sochan hoped to land in a situation where he could play immediately. The waiver gives him that opportunity — and perhaps a cleaner fit with a roster in need of defensive versatility and frontcourt depth.

Born in Guymon, Oklahoma, and raised internationally before starring at Baylor, Sochan has long embraced change. He referenced that perspective when reflecting on his Spurs tenure.

“When I think about my whole life, I’ve been moving all over the place,” Sochan said. “I left home at 15, and this is the first time I’ve been somewhere for more than a year since then. And it’s been four years. I feel like I put a lot of blood, sweat and tears to this city. I’m going to put all of that into wherever I am.”

For San Antonio, the decision signals continued roster prioritization around youth and long-term fit next to Wembanyama. For Sochan, it opens a fresh evaluation window — one where his defensive range, positional versatility, and prior starter-level production may again translate into meaningful minutes.

The next contract may be shorter-term. The opportunity, however, could be significant.