Jeremy Sochan Staying Put: Spurs Forward to Finish Season in San Antonio Despite Role Uncertainty
The San Antonio Spurs made waves at the 2026 NBA trade deadline-not for a blockbuster move, but for the one they didn’t make. Jeremy Sochan, long considered a potential trade or buyout candidate given his uneven fit with the Spurs’ evolving roster, is staying put. According to a report from Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Sochan has no plans to negotiate a buyout and intends to finish the season in San Antonio.
That’s significant news for a team sitting at 35-16 and firmly in the postseason mix. And for fans hoping to see Sochan rediscover his rhythm and make an impact down the stretch, it’s a welcome development.
A Polarizing Talent in a Shifting System
Sochan has always been a bit of a basketball Rorschach test. Depending on who you ask, he’s either a uniquely versatile defensive weapon with untapped offensive upside-or a tweener forward whose lack of shooting makes him a tough fit in today’s NBA spacing-heavy schemes.
The truth, as it often does, likely lives somewhere in the middle.
At just 22 years old, Sochan is still developing. He’s shown flashes of high-level play on both ends of the floor, but consistency has been elusive-especially this season.
Through 27 games played, he’s averaging just 13.1 minutes per contest and shooting 25.7 percent from three-point range. For a Spurs team that already features two high-usage guards in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper who are both shooting under 30 percent from deep, adding another non-shooter to the mix has complicated the rotation.
That’s part of why Sochan became a popular name in buyout speculation circles. But despite the limited minutes and shooting concerns, the Spurs have opted to keep him around. And Sochan, for his part, is committed to riding out his rookie contract in San Antonio.
More Than Just a Shooter
Let’s be clear: Jeremy Sochan is not a one-dimensional player. Far from it. While the shooting struggles have dominated the discourse, there’s a lot more to his game that still holds value-especially for a team with postseason aspirations.
Defensively, Sochan is elite. Last season, he ranked in the 99th percentile in defensive positional versatility, per Basketball Index.
That means he can legitimately guard all five positions, and not just in short spurts. He also landed in the 96th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and the 84th percentile in screener mobile defense-numbers that speak to his ability to switch, recover, and disrupt a wide range of offensive actions.
Offensively, while the jumper needs work, Sochan contributes in other ways. He’s a strong finisher around the rim, a capable passer who can initiate offense in transition or from the elbows, and one of the better offensive rebounders at his position. His feel for the game and defensive IQ remain high-level, even if the fit isn’t perfect on this particular Spurs roster.
The Bigger Picture in San Antonio
The Spurs are no longer the rebuilding team they were just a couple of seasons ago. With a 35-16 record and a core that’s maturing quickly, the expectations have shifted.
Every rotation spot matters now. Every possession counts.
And in that context, it’s fair to question whether Sochan’s current skill set aligns with what the team needs most.
But it’s also fair to recognize that development isn’t linear. Sochan has missed 24 games this season, and his limited role may be as much about rhythm and opportunity as it is about fit. With the right tweaks-and perhaps a more defined role-he could still carve out meaningful minutes as a high-impact defender and secondary playmaker.
For now, though, the message is clear: Jeremy Sochan isn’t going anywhere. He’ll finish the season in silver and black, and the door remains open for him to re-establish his value-both to the Spurs and around the league-as he approaches restricted free agency this summer.
In a season where San Antonio is pushing for something real, Sochan’s journey from polarizing prospect to potential playoff contributor is one worth watching.