On Tuesday night, during the Spurs’ dominant victory over the Lakers, Jeremy Sochan did not play despite much of the second half being garbage time. The following day, San Antonio officially waived Sochan, making him a free agent, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Reasons Behind Sochan’s Departure from San Antonio
The move to waive Sochan was expected after the Spurs held him until the trade deadline while permitting his representatives to explore potential trades, as reported by Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Sochan, who earns $7.1 million this season under an expiring contract, would have become a restricted free agent this summer if acquired through a trade. However, teams like the Knicks hesitated to pursue a trade since they could instead sign him later via a buyout at a minimum salary.
Sochan’s Role and Challenges Within the Spurs Lineup
Over the past two seasons, Sochan shared playing time alongside Victor Wembanyama in the Spurs’ rotation. Yet, as San Antonio bolstered its depth with players including Harrison Barnes, Carter Bryant, Julian Champagnie, Kelly Olynyk, and Dylan Harper, Sochan’s minutes diminished under coach Mitch Johnson. Despite being a dependable defender, Sochan struggled to develop key offensive skills, shooting just 25.7% from beyond the arc this season.
What’s Next for Jeremy Sochan After Clearing Waivers?
Since no team has opted to assume his current salary off waivers, Sochan will enter free agency. It is expected that some team will take a chance on the forward’s athleticism by signing him to a new deal that fits their roster needs and playing style.
The San Antonio Spurs and forward Jeremy Sochan have agreed on his release to allow the 2023 All-Rookie team member to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. Sochan is expected to decide among multiple interested teams. pic.twitter.com/ilLIWLz7gb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 11, 2026
