4 reasons Jeremy Sochan must come off the bench next season

San Antonio Spurs fans won't have to wait much longer to see the 2023–24 Spurs in action, with preseason just two weeks away. We'll, of course, get to see Victor Wembanyama in action for the first time against NBA competition and see how he gels with the rest of the roster, but we'll also get to see a new-look starting lineup.

Wembanyama is expected to start at power forward next season, which is likely to push Jeremy Sochan to the bench. That might be a controversial decision given that he is already a fan favorite and was one of the team's few bright spots last season.

However, with Wembanyama not ready to play center full-time, the Spurs will need to play him at the four, next to another big man. Sochan, despite his versatility, cannot play center full-time either, thus potentially resulting in his new role as the Spurs' sixth man.

Given his unique playing style, that could actually be for the best and help him reach his full potential. Not only that, but it would also be the best for the team. Now, let's take a look at several reasons Sochan must come off the bench next season.

4.) Playing big gives the Spurs a size advantage

An underrated reason why the Spurs should consider bringing Socan off the bench is because of size. Wembanyama is set to become the tallest power forward in league history, and while his thin frame prevents him from playing center full-time, his mobility and skill set should allow him to thrive at the four. That gives the Spurs an opportunity to play a modern version of the Twin Towers with Wemby and Collins.

On defense, they will have plenty of size and length, particularly with Wembanyama able to cover a lot of ground, effectively shrinking the floor in the half-court. That would also encourage the Spurs to play slower to force teams to try and score against them without the benefit of transition baskets. It should also give them an advantage on the glass.

Offensively, having both big men be able to knock down threes and pass should allow the Spurs to keep pace with opposing teams while staying big. The Spurs can and will go small with Wembanyama and Sochan, but they are likely to close halves together. That will give the Spurs the ability to play both big and small, giving them the best of both worlds.

3.) There are spacing concerns with starting Sochan

Starting Sochan might give the Spurs a boost on the defensive end, given his range. Last season, he defended multiple positions, sometimes in the same game. That is obviously very useful, but with Tre Jones expected to start, San Antonio should be mindful of spacing.

With the Spurs likely to start big with Wembanyama playing the four and Collins at the five, some have suggested playing Sochan at the three instead of Keldon Johnson. Johnson has had his shooting struggles, to be sure, but he is a better shooter than Sochan. He was also the team's leading scorer last season, meaning he is certain to draw more defensive attention than Sochan.

To Sochan's credit, he has been working on improving his jumper, but if he doesn't show much, then teams will likely ignore both him and Jones to load up against Wembanyama. Having Collins, who can hit threes, helps, but starting two non-shooters isn't something the Spurs should do. Instead, having Sochan sub in for Collins as well as Devonte Graham for Jones after the first six minutes of each half would allow the team to keep at least four shooters on the floor.

2.) The bench will speed up Sochan's development

By coming off the bench next season, Sochan will have more opportunities to try and create in the second unit. That might seem counterintuitive, but it's true. Assuming he comes in around the six-minute mark of the first and third quarters, he may spend a few minutes playing with most of the starters before having a seven-minute stretch spanning quarters without them.

Those stretches where he is one of the only starters on the floor would give him the chance to play more with the ball in his hands. While he probably won't be playing point guard, there will certainly be some plays where he is the primary ball handler. Better yet, if he has shown improvement as a shooter, we might even see him using pin-downs as a way to create open looks for himself.

The freedom that Sochan could have in the second unit wouldn't be unique to him. For instance, had Boris Diaw not come off the bench, he might not have been given the opportunity to post up nearly as much. He proved to be an effective scorer on the block, particularly when guarded by weaker or smaller players.

That came in handy during the Spurs' title run in 2014, when the Thunder went small and were forced to double-team him in the post, creating open shots for the Spurs. That's not to say that Sochan will develop a skill that will help the Spurs win a championship next season. But coming off the bench will give him a chance to expand his game and develop skills that could make him a much more useful player down the road.

1.) Sochan's utility makes him invaluable off the bench

When looking at the Spurs' projected starting lineup of Jones, Devin Vassell, Johnson, Wembanyama, and Collins, the two players most often suggested to come off the bench are Jones and Johnson. However, both players fill specific roles in the starting lineup. Jones is the team's best playmaker, and the Spurs are unlikely to have Wembanyama start his career playing in experimental lineups that don't include a traditional point guard.

Meanwhile, Johnson is a key part of the team's offensive attack, along with Vassell. Benching Johnson in favor of Sochan, who is primarily a defensive player at this point, wouldn't optimize either player. Instead, the Spurs could simply keep Johnson in the role he is best suited for—starting at small forward—and have Sochan play as the team's third big man.

That would allow him to sub in and play with either big while staying at power forward. Better still, he would still be able to play a large role. After all, Wembanyama and Collins may only average around 30 and 24 minutes per game, respectively.

That would allow Sochan to still average around 30 minutes, close games, and have the same impact he otherwise would. On the other hand, Jones and Johnson likely wouldn't have the same impact off the bench. Therefore, Sochan coming off the bench next season would be beneficial to everyone.