Knicks just gifted Spurs their perfect trade deadline target

Despite having just met in the NBA Cup Finals, the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks could soon link up on a trade. That would be a surprising development, but it could help both teams.

Especially the Spurs, who seem to be losing faith in former lottery pick Jeremy Sochan. Sochan has had several healthy DNP's recently and is playing the fewest minutes of his career.

With him set to become a restricted free agent after this season, the Spurs may rather move on from him and add a better-fitting player who is already locked into a cheap contract. That is where the Knicks come in.

The Knicks just gave the Spurs the perfect trade deadline target

The potential trade would see the Spurs trade Sochan to the Knicks for Guerschon Yabusele, Ariel Hukporti, and a 2032 pick swap. Yabusele was on the Spurs' radar during the offseason, but they ultimately went with Luke Kornet, even though Yabusele signed a cheap two-year deal for just $9.1 million.

He hasn't quite worked out in New York just yet, and they may be willing to move him. Getting a former top-10 pick who might fit their team much better than he does on his current team might appeal to the Knicks. It should also appeal to the Spurs.

Sochan simply doesn't fit San Antonio's roster well. They have less need for a defensive ace with them having several capable perimeter defenders in Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Harrison Barnes.

Guerschon Yabusele would be a better fit for the Spurs

Each of those are better offensive players than Sochan and fit better alongside star Victor Wembanyama. Therefore, trading him for Yabusele makes sense, and not just because he is French and on the French National Team with Wembanyama.

While Yabusele hasn't been as good this season as he was last season for the Philadelphia 76ers, he could still fill a role. He is a burly forward who can also play center and also shot 38.8% from three last season.

Having him play alongside Wembanyama or Kornet, even spot minutes at backup center, would be possible without negatively affecting the team's spacing, and he can also attack closeouts too. He would be a downgrade from Sochan defensively.

Jeremy Sochan's time with the Spurs may be coming to an end

Even so, the Spurs wisely seem to be prioritizing offensive fit next to Wembanyama, with many of the players that often share the floor with him also being at least decent defenders.

That means that there is no weak link to exploit, and even if a player were to get into the paint, they would still have to finish over Wembanyama or Kornet. With that strategy, it's not surprising that Sochan has fallen out of the rotation as he struggles to figure out how he fits into the team offensively.

Who knows, maybe he will soon reemerge and show off an improved 3-point shot that will make him a key rotation player. However, if he doesn't, the Spurs should strongly consider moving him for a player that would fit better and be cheaper to keep. That could be Yabusele.