As the NBA trade deadline looms, the Phoenix Suns find themselves in a familiar position - evaluating whether a mid-season move could elevate their roster for a deep postseason run. One name that’s surfaced in the rumor mill: San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan.
According to recent reports, the Suns are among several teams that have checked in on the 22-year-old. It’s not hard to see why. Phoenix has been actively exploring ways to shore up the power forward spot, and Sochan fits the profile of a young, versatile defender who could bring energy and upside to a team looking for a spark.
A former No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Sochan has seen his role significantly reduced this season in San Antonio. After logging over 25 minutes per game in each of his first two seasons, he’s averaging just 13.1 minutes per contest this year and hasn’t started a single game. He’s also currently sidelined with a quad injury, which has only added to a frustrating campaign.
That drop in usage, along with his looming restricted free agency, makes Sochan a logical candidate for a change of scenery. For the Suns, the opportunity to acquire a young player with upside - especially one who could be motivated to prove himself ahead of a new contract - is worth a look.
Now, whether a deal actually gets done is another story. Suns center Nick Richards has reportedly come up in exploratory talks.
Richards, on an expiring deal, has seen his minutes dwindle behind Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro, with rookie Khaman Maluach waiting in the wings. He’s long been viewed as a trade chip, and packaging him in a deal for Sochan could make sense from a basketball standpoint.
But here’s where the financials get tricky. Trading for Sochan would push Phoenix deeper into luxury tax territory - not an ideal scenario for a team already flirting with the repeater tax threshold. That’s a real consideration for a front office trying to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term flexibility.
One possible workaround? Including Nigel Hayes-Davis’ expiring contract in a package with Richards.
That could allow the Suns to land Sochan while avoiding the repeater tax - a win-win on paper. The question is whether the Spurs would bite on a return built around expiring contracts.
San Antonio may prefer to extract draft capital in any deal, especially with no long-term salary commitments coming back.
That’s where things get complicated for Phoenix. The Suns are already low on draft assets, and even parting with second-round picks might be a tough pill to swallow. Still, if the Spurs can’t find a better offer elsewhere, a clean-slate return might be enough to get a deal done.
From a basketball perspective, Sochan brings a lot to the table. Last season, he averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 53.5% from the field. He’s not a floor-spacer - his career 3-point percentage sits at just 28.7%, and he’s struggled at the free-throw line as well - but his defensive versatility, motor, and ability to play multiple positions are intriguing.
For a Suns team looking to add youth, athleticism, and defensive toughness, Sochan could be a gamble worth taking - even if he’s more of a short-term rental than a long-term piece. The fact that he’s playing for his next contract adds another layer of motivation that Phoenix could benefit from down the stretch.
Sochan has already been linked to Phoenix as one of the top potential landing spots, and it’s easy to see how he could fit into the Suns’ rotation. Whether the front office is willing to make the financial and asset-based sacrifices to bring him in, though, remains to be seen.
With the deadline fast approaching, the ball is in San Antonio’s court. If the Spurs decide to move Sochan, and the Suns are willing to make a calculated push, this could be one of the more intriguing under-the-radar deals to watch before the buzzer sounds.