Jeremy Sochan Waived: What the Spurs’ Move Says About the Unpredictability of the NBA Draft
The San Antonio Spurs made headlines by waiving Jeremy Sochan, the ninth overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft. And while the move may have surprised some, it’s also a reminder of just how unpredictable the NBA Draft really is - even for one of the league’s most respected front offices.
The draft is often billed as a science, but in reality, it’s more of a gamble. Teams do their homework, run the numbers, scout every angle.
But when it comes time to make the pick, even the most informed decision can go sideways. For every Victor Wembanyama or Cooper Flagg - the rare prospects who live up to the hype - there’s an Anthony Bennett or Zaccharie Risacher, players who, for one reason or another, don’t pan out the way teams hoped.
And that’s where Sochan comes in.
A Calculated Swing That Didn’t Connect
Back in 2022, the Spurs were in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild. Fresh off trading Dejounte Murray, San Antonio wasn’t looking to plug a hole - they were laying the foundation.
So when they used the ninth pick on Sochan, a versatile, high-energy forward out of Baylor, it made sense. He wasn’t a flashy scorer or a polished offensive weapon, but he brought defensive intensity, positional versatility, and a motor that fit the Spurs’ culture.
At the time, the alternatives weren’t exactly obvious slam dunks. Johnny Davis and AJ Griffin were two of the more hyped prospects still on the board, but neither has stuck in the league.
Sochan, in comparison, had a clearer path to contributing right away - and he did. For a while.
But as the Spurs’ rebuild took shape and Victor Wembanyama entered the picture in 2023, the calculus changed.
The Wembanyama Effect
Wembanyama is a generational talent, the kind of player you don’t build around - you build with. His unique combination of size, skill, and vision demands a specific kind of supporting cast: players who can space the floor, move the ball, and make smart decisions.
Sochan, for all his energy and defensive upside, struggled to fit into that mold. His offensive limitations became more glaring, especially when he was asked to play a pseudo-point-forward role that didn’t maximize his strengths.
Could the Spurs have anticipated this? Probably not.
Wembanyama wasn’t even on the roster when they drafted Sochan. The franchise was still centered around Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, and the idea of drafting for “fit” - especially when the future was so uncertain - didn’t make much sense.
Even if they had gone that route, the options weren’t much better. Davis and Ochai Agbaji were two of the more NBA-ready guards available, and Sochan has arguably had a more impactful career than either of them.
In hindsight, sure, players like Jalen Williams, Walker Kessler, or Andrew Nembhard would’ve been better picks. But that’s the thing about hindsight - it’s undefeated.
Drafting Is a Gamble, Not a Blueprint
The reality is, there’s no magic formula for drafting the right player. Teams can study trends, crunch data, and bring in elite scouting departments, but at the end of the day, it’s a roll of the dice.
The Spurs took a shot on Sochan because he fit the direction they were heading at the time. He gave them good minutes, showed flashes, and played his role.
But as the team’s identity evolved, his fit didn’t.
That’s not a failure - it’s part of the process.
Getting to a second contract in the NBA is no small feat. For lottery picks especially, the expectations are enormous, and the margin for error is razor-thin. Sochan’s journey with the Spurs may have ended earlier than expected, but it’s not a cautionary tale - it’s a case study in how hard it is to get these decisions right.
The Spurs will move forward with Wembanyama as the centerpiece of their future, and Sochan will get another shot elsewhere. That’s the nature of the league. Draft night promises hope, but the real work - the growth, the fit, the chemistry - comes after the cameras stop rolling.
And sometimes, even the most well-intentioned picks just don’t stick.