Spurs can only blame themselves for disappointing Jeremy Sochan outcome

When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Jeremy Sohan ninth overall in 2022, fans hoped he'd eventually be a crucial piece to a championship team. Of course, that didn't work out that way, and after three and a half seasons with the Spurs, he was waived.

Now, after a short stint with the New York Knicks, he signed a training camp deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. That's a rapid fall from grace for a former lottery pick heralded for his versatility and defensive potential.

What's more surprising is that he didn't live up to his full potential while playing for an organization known for getting the best out of young players. Perhaps that had a lot to do with a failed experiment that seemingly derailed his career.

Spurs can only blame themselves for Jeremy Sochan's flameout

The Spurs infamously played Sochan at point guard during his sophomore season, and that turned out to be a disaster. So much so that it derailed his development, and he never truly lived up to his potential.

That was only part of his problems, though. Sochan appeared as though he were breaking out during his third season. Unfortunately, a poorly timed injury cost him his momentum, and he never progressed after returning to the lineup.

Some of that was due to Harrison Barnes. He proved to be the perfect complement to star Victor Wembanyama. That's true, but Sochan also deserves some criticism for things not working out in San Antonio.

Despite having several years, he never developed into a capable three-point shooter. It was always going to be an uphill battle for him to become even a decent shooter, but he never even sniffed that.

Sochan never became the player the Spurs were hoping he would

It's really too bad; Sochan would have been the perfect complement to the Spurs' young core had he improved as a offensive player. It never happened, so San Antonio was forced to look at other options.

Julian Champagnie developing into a legitimate role player proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Sochan, and he was eventually waived. Even if the Spurs deserve blame for how things turned out, it's worth pointing out that he also failed to make an impact on the Knicks.

They could have used a versatile defensive player in their frontcourt, but he was relegated to the bench. Now, he is on a training camp deal with a fringe playoff team.

The Blazers have a recent history of signing former Spurs players, so that could work out in his favor. Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine him playing a huge role for Portland next season even if he makes their roster.

Overall, San Antonio might have had high hopes for Sohan, but their experimenting with his development and his lack of improvement sealed his fate. Hopefully he will still carve out a role in the NBA, with the Blazers offering him another chance to emerge as a key rotation player.

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