Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2024-25 participant opinions! The collection will have a look at the gamers who completed the season with the San Antonio Spurs on assured contracts and who performed consequential minutes and/or an important position (so no two-way gamers as a result of we hardly noticed them this yr, and no gamers who had been traded away).
Jeremy Sochan
2024-25 stats: 54 video games, 11.4 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 53.5 FG% on 8.7 makes an attempt
Contract Standing: 1 yr, $7 million remaining (eligible for rookie extension)
Age: 21
Jeremy Sochan has but to search out stable footing in his NBA profession… and it’s not completely his fault. For 2 years in a row, Sochan has been pressured to fill a job that’s not 100% suited to his strengths. There was the purpose guard experiment in his second season, after which this yr, he was thrust right into a backup middle position when the Spurs’ massive males depth out of the blue dried up. By means of all of it, Sochan confirmed why he’s a priceless Swiss-Military man for the Spurs’ future.
Early within the season, when he was allowed to play as a wing defender and cutter, Sochan was having a profession season. Regardless of coping with accidents, he averaged 11.7 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and a couple of.5 assists whereas taking pictures 54.5% from the sector and 34% from three (on 1.4 makes an attempt) in 33 video games earlier than the All-Star break. After the deadline, these numbers dipped a bit as his position modified night time to nighttime. Whereas his offense got here and went, his effort and defensive skill had been constants.
Sochan continues to be the Spurs’ hardest 1-on-1 defender and rose to the problem of inauspicious matchups. His size, power and athleticism assist him stick with a few of the greatest scorers within the league and permit him to carry his personal when tasked with taking part in small-ball middle. He’s getting higher at being in the correct spots off the ball and combating via screens to contest shooters and cutters. He was the Spurs defender who progressed probably the most this season.
He began to look higher offensively, too. Sochan had his best taking pictures season of his profession, residing off of cuts, dump-offs offs and put-backs. He shot a career-best 70.7% from 3 toes and in. He appeared assured passing and dealing with the ball due to his yr at level guard. His three-point proportion remained the identical as final season, and his free-throw proportion dropped, however it’s clear that he was going via some mechanical adjustments this yr.
His leap shot from deep appears to be like higher. The outcomes aren’t fairly there but, however he appears extra assured and easy taking the shot. The query is: how lengthy can the Spurs play one other non-shooter subsequent to Victor Wembanyama? Do Sochan’s different strengths make up for his one obtrusive offensive flaw?
Trying forward
Sochan is eligible for the rookie scale contract this offseason. If the Spurs don’t attain an settlement with him, he’ll change into a restricted free agent after subsequent season. Sochan appears to be an necessary a part of the versatile, defensive staff the Spurs are constructing with gamers like Wembanyama, Stephon Fort, and De’Aaron Fox. However for the primary time in his NBA profession, he got here off the bench greater than he began. So, what’s the worth the Spurs are prepared to pay for a long-term bench piece?
Examples for rookie-scale extensions for wings with the same profile to Sochan vary from excessive to affordable. Deni Avdija signed a cut price 4-year, $55M deal after his third NBA season during which he averaged 9.2 factors, 6.4 rebounds, and shot simply 29.7% from three. Jaden McDaniels was a defensive wing who struggled from three till his third season, when he shot 39.8% from deep, and earned a 5-year, $131M contract.
Sochan profiles nearer to Avdija than McDaniels. His lack of ability to house the ground will restrict his long-term potential alongside Fox and Wemby within the beginning lineup. Nonetheless, he’s a priceless defender and spark plug of the bench together with his vitality and rebounding. Plus, he has good synergy with Wembanyama — of their 483 minutes collectively, the Spurs had a 110.6 offensive ranking and 107.1 defensive ranking (3.5 internet). That ought to drive San Antonio to pursue an reasonably priced extension with Sochan.
Getting Sochan on a good extension ought to be one of many Spurs’ prime priorities this offseason. Cash will likely be tight with two near-max gamers on the roster in Fox and ultimately Wembanyama. San Antonio’s cap sheet will likely be an enormous think about future choices. Getting a very good defensive participant with some positional versatility on a very good deal will assist give them the longer term flexibility to form the roster right into a contender.
High efficiency
Dec. 19 vs. the Atlanta Hawks: 20 factors, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and a clutch steal in an extra time win.
Remaining grade: B+
Up subsequent: Keldon Johnson
Earlier Critiques:
Bismack Biyombo, Charles Bassey, Malaki Branham
Blake Wesley
Sandro Mamukelashvili
De’Aaron Fox
Julian Champagnie
