The New York Knicks have officially signed former San Antonio Spur Jeremy Sochan. Sochan officially cleared waivers on Friday night, a day after Shams Charania reported he would do so. The Knicks reportedly beat out nine other teams for the services of the 22-year-old. The Knicks can sign him now thanks to Guerschon Yabusele.
What Will Jeremy Sochan Bring To The Knicks, and How Will His Addition Affect Mike Brown’s Rotation?
Sochan, the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft, and the Spurs agreed to a mutually beneficial buyout agreement on Wednesday. Sochan had been a major part of the Spurs rotation the past three seasons, but saw his role significantly reduced this year as the Spurs upgraded their talent. He averaged 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists with shooting splits of 47.5/25.7/68.8.
New York entered the trade deadline just $148,000 below the second apron, but they were able to increase that sum to $1.15 million by trading Yabusele despite also acquiring Jose Alvarado. The Knicks also have an open roster spot.
The reason that Yabusele gets the assist is likely that the Chicago Bulls wouldn’t have willing to take him on if he had not declined his $5.5 million player option for next season. Sochan will get the prorated minimum from the Knicks.
What Will Jeremy Sochan Bring To The Knicks?
Sochan is a versatile forward known more for his defense, though he has the skills to be an offensive connector. His true value lies in the energy he brings, his ability to guard all five positions, and his ability to manage offensive possessions.
Defense is Sochan’s calling card. Sochan is a disruptive force who can guard all five positions and is comfortable marking elite scorers without fouling.
Offensively, Sochan is comfortable with the ball in his hands, but is not a shooter or scorer. He is at his best in pick-n-rolls, dribble handoffs, and transition. In addition, he is an outstanding offensive rebounder.
Sochan averages 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists with shooting splits of 47.5/25.7/68.8 in 212 career games. He has also produced 17 double-doubles. Over 55% of his shots have come from within 10 feet of the basket.
The biggest reason that Sochan drew interest from the Knicks is to toughen up their perimeter defense heading into the playoff stretch, per Josh Benjamin of Elite Sports NY.
“It’s clear why the Knicks are signing Jeremy Sochan, ” Benjamin wrote. “They’re toughening up the team’s perimeter D ahead of the playoffs. New York has gotten shellacked not once but twice by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons this year, and they were shorthanded both times, too.”
Sochan should also be able to instill toughness and physicality while also causing some chaos defensively. He has a high motor and is willing to do the little things.
© Daniel Dunn, Imagn Images
How Will Mike Brown’s rotation look?
Sochan projects to be a major part of Mike Brown‘s rotation off the bench. Sochan will likely serve as the Knicks 6th or 7th man. He will be the primary backup for Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby.
If Sochan replaces Bridges or Hart, Anunoby would slide up to the three. Meanwhile, Alvarado is Jalen Brunson’s main backup, and Mitchell Robinson is obviously Karl-Anthony Towns’ understudy. Although if Robinson or Towns are inactive, Socha can fill some minutes at center.
Anunoby and Miles McBride are the only Knicks dealing with injuries. McBride is likely out until April after undergoing core surgery. Conversely, Anunoby has sat out the last four games and is considered day-to-day with a toe injury. He should be ready to go when the Knicks open up the second half of the season at home against Detroit on February 19.
If Anunoby can’t go versus Detroit, Sochan could step in and start at power forward. Sochan has started 149 games in his career. While he has been productive as a starter, he has been more efficient when coming off the bench.
Brown has used 19 different starting lineups this season. The Knicks, 35-20 on the season, are 13-3 in games when Hart, Brunson, Anunoby, Bridges, and Towns start together. If Anunoby can’t play against the Pistons, Landry Shamet, who has started nine contests this year, is the most likely candidate to get the start. Shamet has started the past three games for Anunoby, and the Knicks are 5-4 in the contests he has opened with the first unit.
Brown typically uses a nine-man rotation. Expect Alvarado, Robinson, and Sochan to see most of the minutes off the bench. Shamet is the only shooter in the group so that he will get some run. That leaves Mohammad Diawara or Jordan Clarkson as the likely 10th man, depending on the matchup and foul situations. However, Clarkson projects to get most of those minutes, at least until McBride returns.