I just watched the video, and yeah, it was more than OK posting that. He was just showing his experience in Manila which looks like a nice one. It's not an IG baller thing at all.
I still like sochan but last year was a major disappointment. He has to be able to be a passable shooter. I’m talking about 3 to 5 attempts a game on 32/34%. Nothing ground breaking, not the next steph, but enough to keep the defence honest. If he can do that hed be an extremely useful player. But it’s looking more and more likely it won’t happen.
Count me in the camp of thinking Sochan can be a meaningful contributor to our future.
One of the issues is Sochan is the type of connective guy who could be much more effective when surrounded by competent shooters…which has not been the case for most/all of his career. If the Spurs fix their shooting (obviously Sochan needs to improve too) I think Sochan could look much more passable on offense.
Now I’m not saying I want to just automatically give him a massive extension. But I do envision him being a part of our future…more so than Keldon/Vassell/Branham/Wesley. That being said at this point the idea of him being some legit 3rd option like many of us hoped is starting to look less likely. Hoping he can be a really solid bench guy though.
I'm just glad he's already working on his game while the playoffs are still going on. It will be a long summer and he should improve as long as he puts the work in. I think he should really focus on knocking the 3 down from one specific spot, like the corners. Kinda like Bruce did back in the day.
Sorry but what would be the point of an unmoderated board without ever being "edgey"? But if it bothered you enough to reply back that was not my intent. I'm not a fan of social media either for myself, but these kids grew up with it and it's what they do.
He's so far down on the totem pole he's more like the 8th option on offense and even that's getting shaky. It does not even seem possible to play him with our best lineup of presumably Fox-Harper-Castle-Wemby. Because the best 3 PT shooter of that foursome is Wemby @ 35 % then it goes down from there.
So good for him to try and focus on the long ball, which is a big team need. I always thought he had a good shooting touch, but anyone with a release point that low needs to do something different. It is stupid to shoot with a low release point and basically shrink yourself into a foot shorter player. Anyone who doesn't have a release point high above their head needs to fix that.
I also wish he would work on getting his midrange lane game back, because it's there all day long and he just makes a bad pass or drives into traffic under the rim and gets capped. His confidence was really shot late in the season, worst decision making I've seen from him.
There are a few things that I find problematic when evaluating Sochan, and he seemed to be rather polarizing.
Those who likes him (including yours truly) view him as a connective piece who competes hard, get up on people's faces on defence, and cut for easy buckets.
Those who hates him view him as dead weight who will ruin the cap because he clogs up the lane and has questionable decision making even though he is a lottery pick. Also doom and gloom scenarios of him making $20M a year.
I think the reality is somewhere in between.
I admit that his lack of outside shooting is a major issue that negatively impacts the Spurs on offence and limits the things that the team can do when he is on the court. That said, it's not like every single starter on every team can shooter. To compare young bigs to him, Jalen Duren can't shoot, at all! he attempted 6 3Pters his entire career, with 0 makes (all heaves I assume), and he makes the dumbest of mistakes on offence and defence, and yet I'd say he is a reasonable piece on a decent Detroit team, because he actually has a role to play.
Walker Kessler, worse shooter than Sochan, can't get to the rim, can't handle the ball, slow footed, great rim protector, and again a valuable role player no the lowly Jazz. Again, because he has a role.
Sochan doesn't have a role, never did. He just got thrown into situations and do whatever he can do get the job done. it is horrible for his development and I think is the primary reason he has been a disappointment this year.
People who expect him to be some offensive engine is being unrealistic, he won't be an offensive creator, and he doesn't have to be, he is a role player, and the job of the coaching staff is to find a role for him to fit in, on offence and defence. If there is no role, ship him out for someone who can fill that role. Sochan will never be a Diaw, he will never be a Rodman, and it is unlikely he will ever become even an Aaron Gordon, but Gordon was the 4th pick, has incredible athleticism, and was not doing all that great when he was with Orlando. He got a suitable role for him in Denver, playing with one of the best offensive player that unlocked his potential. Again, right environment, right skill sets. Trying to fit Sochan into some swiss army knife role is just a bad experiment that won't go anywhere, at least not now, it's asking a kid to do quadratic functions before he knew how to do basic algebra. Perhaps Sochan will spend his entire career doing basic algebra, and that is fine, but to say he sucks because he can't do quadratic functions is unfair.
Another example is Wiggins, he was a huge bust with the Wolves, because the expectations was for him to be the next Mike. Guess what? He isn't. He found the role with the GSW and he blossomed into a valuable player. There are different types of basketball players and FO just has to find the right roles for them. By all indication, he is willing to do whatever is required of him, he works hard, and he doesn't complain.
Speaking of working hard, to say that he is lazy because it's been three years and he still can't shoot is lazy. Duncan's FT shooting actually got worse during his prime from 2004 to 2009, I would never call Duncan lazy because of that. Sochan did add elements to his game over the year, he because a better perimeter player, he became a vastly better cutter and rebounder, and those things don't just happen. His shot selection has improved quite a bit, cutting down on 3s and is taking it down low for dunks ad layups. His finishing has also improved quite a bit. He is relying mostly on cuts now and doesn't have to create (Thank God) and he is steadily increasing the % of corner 3s.
That said, he does have HUGE flaws in his game. There are outlines of tools that can make him a very good role player, maybe even an elite role player like Aaron Gordon and Bam (not likely but we can all hope) but he has to build there. He was ranked 90th in the 2021 RSCI rankings. The only player ranked below him (in the top 100) that were drafted were KJ Simpson and Devin Carter, so he most definitely worked hard and improved and as such I am still holding out hope.
I want him to succeed with the Spurs, but yeah, if we can find a strong lock down perimeter player who can make threes, I can see why we would let him go.
During the championship years, Pop had his players as specialists, 3-and-D, shooters. They had players who know “exactly” their role. In the absence of talent, Sochan started reinventing himself, and not only him but Keldon, Vassell. They need defined roles. I’m not taking away from Sochan, he is a high energy, disruptive player. During the championship years, he would be that, a Bruce Bowen type who will defend hard and be on the spot to hit that 3. I bet Bruce Bowen will be called out also if he were on this team, instead of his jersey hanging up there. The Spurs are slowly getting their talent and players roles will be more defined. No more Vassell trying to create too much and playing out of team offense. It’s Spurs basketball and what stood for more than two decades, getting in the playoffs every year, no matter who’s on the court it seems, it doesn’t matter who, they moved well within the system. I think that’s the goal. No more overthinking and playing outside their comfort zone. They have to fall in. And if they don’t, then they pack up.
Good post, ambchang.
It's interesting to me that the opinions on Sochan tend to be on the extremes. Folks either want to pencil him in a part of our untouchable core... or want to give him away for a bag of curly fries.
I'm in the middle - and people seem to get really defensive (one way or another) about it. I think Jeremy is a young, toolsy player who has flashed some potential. Generally plays good D, flashes great D at times, is a solid and improving rebounder, is a good cutter and guy for the dunker spot, but is severely limited offensively and displays very low BBIQ at times.
What do we do with this type of guy? Some want to extend him for 4/100, others want to over him 3/30 or, like I said, trade him for a bag of curly fries. I'd personally treat him the way we did Lonnie - let him have a prove it year ahead of RFA. We can always give him an extension next summer, or we can see how the market values him and match next offseason. He's still very young and has flashed enough to not want to simply give up on, but he's not shown enough to commit to. I'm not necessarily looking to trade him, but I'm also not opposed to trading him.
I will say, however, I'm genuinely confused by the folks who will stan hard for Jeremy. I don't understand what they are seeing that makes them write things like "We have Wemby, Fox, Harper and Sochan! We stacked!" One of those things is not like the others (for now). I agree that he brings a rare skillset, but it's yet to be seen if it is a particularly useful skillset.
I agree that he should have a season to prove himself, but the issue is that he just doesn't fit the team anymore.
If we get Harper we'll have three guards that need shooters around them.
Jeremy kind of got ed by PG and C experiments, I don't want to see him as a backup C next season. Either make it work with him as a forward or trade him for everyone's sake.
Last edited by LeBowen; 05-16-2025 at 03:19 PM.
sochan isnt a worthless player, hes one of the few guys we have had that can impact a game defensively and he does very well on SG/SF types. but his offensive production is largely just cutting for easy finishes in the paint. he did get better at contested finishes. but his ballhandling is rarely relevant. his passing isnt noteworthy even though it was one of his plus traits in college. hes just very passive on offense unless he is spoonfed a high quality shot.
so how much do you pay a good perimeter defender who is a non-factor offensively, and doesnt offer rim protection. i dont think its 15+ mil
I'm also in the middle about him. He's young and has potential, but if we really want to make noise in the postseason, we basically have to construct a roster around him because he can't shoot. If he comes off the bench our back up big has to shoot 3s. If he starts one of Harper or Castle needs to develop into a good 3-point shooter. At some point you gotta let go if he holds back the entire roster.
I already have problems penciling him into the rotation for this season if we want to play line ups with proper spacing. He might be an end of the bench guy by next season.
If Sochan could just shoot the ing ball then we would be in the perfect position to trade for Giannis bc hypothetically Wemby, Giannis, an offensively competent Sochan, Harper, and Fox could win a ring or two… (yes in my scenario I traded Castle instead of Harper)
more quick glimpses from a recent IG story
Using the FIBA ball, they know what's in line down the road.
Not a hater contrary to what some here think, it'll be the 3rd season I'm waiting to be proven wrong about Sochan tho.
Who knows...
Eurobasket in Poland
I know, don't ruin the joke.
Branham certainly won't be playing at Eurobasket.
Even a drastic increase in Sochan shooting, would still be an average shooter. Defensively though, that is a monstrous team.
Sochan, post year three is virtually the same player as Aaron Gordon, post year three. AG was reviled by Orlando fans, and widely considered a bust.
It will be high fives all around if Sochan makes the same leap Gordon did in year 4
a bit of lateral rotation
Good pull, didn't realize there is actually similar scenario the played out positively.
if Sochan takes that form into the regular season, he'll be golden. its quick, good arch.
Good looking.
Branham is so damn frustrating. his form, the ball he shoots is freaking beautiful. Just doesn't translate to the court. whatever.
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