The Sacramento Kings are on a highly improbable mission to become remotely relevant in the NBA. To do that, they need to greatly improve their defensive presence. The guy they need is Jeremy Sochan, the former Spurs defender with issues on offense who is now calling the Big Apple home.
A Baylor Bear in college, Sochan was drafted ninth overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2022. This was the year before the Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama first overall and two years before they drafted Stephon Castle fourth overall. San Antonio has had a few great drafts in a row.
During his first three seasons in the league, Sochan was a key-ish player for the Spurs. Keeping in mind that he dealt with injuries, he was averaging 27.0 minutes alongside 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. They're not huge numbers, but he excels on defense.
All of the changes on the San Antonio roster over the past couple of years led to Sochan being used a lot less. In the 28 games she played for the Spurs this season, he started in none of them and was only averaging 12.8 minutes per game. His stats all declined with his drastic minutes decrease.
Jeremy Sochan is just what the doctor ordered for the Kings
The Spurs recently waived Sochan, which led to him being picked up by the Knicks. He has the potential to be a solid bench player for the Eastern Conference contenders. As it stands right now, the fourth-year power forward is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
If New York chooses not to retain Sochan's services, there is an opportunity here for the Kings. While Sochan is capable on offense, he shines on defense, where he has the tools to both protect the rim and lock down the perimeter. When it comes to defensive rotations, he is crisp and smooth.
Sacramento has improved their defensive presence somewhat, thanks to rookies like Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and especially Dylan Cardwell. Adding Precious Achiuwa to the mix hasn't hurt, either. Recruiting a dedicated defender like Sochan would help define and focus them.
He might not be an offensive threat, but Jeremy Sochan could be a defensive nightmare for the Kings' opponents. If he can deliver that kind of dynamic, it would give the Kings' offense, once they build one, the chance to operate.