Jeremy Sochan headlines a Spurs’ 2022 draft class that all got waived over the weekend

The hits keep coming for the Spurs’ 2022 draft class. Jeremy Sochan, Blake Wesley, and Malaki Branham were all first-round picks, and though they didn’t work out in San Antonio, it’d be nice to see them find a home elsewhere. Unfortunately, they were all cut over the weekend as teams trim their rosters in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign.

The Blazers had Sochan, former Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney took a flier on Branham in Orlando, and Wesley tried to get on with the Clippers. All three swings whiffed. It’s just more confirmation of a significant strikeout for San Antonio. A horrendous draft haul didn’t doom this franchise, though.

Wembanyama was worth every miss in 2022

If anything, it helped ensure they were just bad enough to be in position to grab Victor Wembanyama the following summer. Understanding when to pivot off those players is just as important.

Sochan’s arc is the one that stings a little. San Antonio waived him in February, he caught on with the Knicks, and four months later he was holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy the Spurs were playing for. The former Baylor Bear barely played but got a ring anyway. Now he’s off his third team in a calendar year.

Branham and Wesley at least have the possibility of a soft landing. Both were waived off Exhibit 10 deals, which exist for exactly this, and each could end up with the club’s G League affiliate. Jeremy was on a straight non-guaranteed camp deal, so there's no affiliate waiting for him. He becomes an unrestricted free agent if nobody claims him today.

The Spurs are in a much better place now

Champagnie, Carter Bryant, Harrison Barnes, and now Tobias Harris are all better options. Sochan was a strong defender, but didn’t bring enough of anything else to the table. The others all bring a more versatile offensive skill set. It’s hard to thrive as a specialist in the NBA in an era where so many are well-rounded.

Neither Wesley nor Branham were ever going to be starters, so nobody held any illusions about potential stardom, but there were plenty of opportunities for them to become strong depth pieces. Both Coach Pop and Coach Johnson gave them every chance to prove themselves. It didn’t happen.

However, when you have three all-star-level point guards, bench playmaking is a little less important. Jordan McLaughlin and Ja’Kobi Gillespie are providing that backup now, and they’ll rarely play during the season. It’s better this way for San Antonio.

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