The Mavericks have spent the offseason collecting bets on former first-round talent, and Jeremy Sochan fits right into that pattern.
Dallas added another intriguing name over the weekend when the Texas Legends took the 23-year-old forward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League Draft. The move came only months after he won the 2026 NBA Finals with the New York Knicks, giving the Mavericks another high-upside player to evaluate inside the organization.
Sochan entered the league with real pedigree. The San Antonio Spurs selected him No. 9 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, and he earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in a group that included Jalen Duren, Tari Eason, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith Jr. He flashed early in San Antonio, and even though his production dropped last season, he still arrives in Dallas with a resume that makes him worth monitoring closely.
Across his first four seasons, Sochan averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. He logged 25.3 minutes per game over that stretch, and his defense and energy kept him in the Spurs’ rotation for 3.5 seasons. The former Baylor Bear was regularly tasked with checking an opponent’s top scorer, which helped define his value in San Antonio.
Now he gets a fresh runway in Texas after being cut by the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this month. His path back to the NBA starts with the Legends, but the setup gives Dallas something useful: direct access. The organization can watch him in games, see him in practice, and work in lockstep between Texas and Dallas to shape the parts of his game that need work.
"This is a selection that the Mavs front office is very excited about as well," Texas Legends General Manager Terry Sullivan said on Saturday.
It was also the kind of move that comes with very little downside. Sochan was one of the better players available in this year’s G League Draft, and not long ago he was still on an NBA roster.
In four preseason games for Portland, he averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 4-for-5 from 3-point range, enough to suggest he might stick. Instead, the Blazers waived him, and Dallas now gets the chance to see whether there’s still another level to unlock.
The fit is easy to see on paper. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Sochan has the size to handle power forward duties, and his motor plus lateral quickness give him a chance to guard on the perimeter. With Dallas looking for more point-of-attack defense, he could eventually become part of the answer if he earns his way back.
For now, the Legends have given the Mavericks another former lottery pick to develop, and Sochan’s progress in Frisco could become one of those quietly interesting storylines worth following. If he puts together a strong season, Dallas could eventually have the option to hand him a standard contract.
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