Spurs' former rival may hold keys to Jeremy Sochan's uncertain future

The biggest personnel storyline this season will be about Jeremy Sochan and what the Spurs plan to do with him. He's found himself coming off the bench after starting for the first two-plus years in the league. That's telling. Bench players just don't have the same security as starters do, and I'd argue that after Luke Doncic was traded, nobody is safe (except for Victor Wembanyama).

However, there's a special kind of uneasiness for players when they see their roles morph from consistent contributor to bench and energy guy. It's not too late for the Polish forward, though. He's been working on his game, and his three-point shooting in particular. If he can make strides there, there's a path back into the starting lineup and a long-term deal with the Spurs. That's where Rashard Lewis comes in.

Rashard Lewis played the role Sochan needs to learn

Long-time Spurs fans will remember how good a player Lewis was in his heyday. The 6'10" power forward is a two-time all-star and played on several teams that went deep in the playoffs, including finals runs, and won a championship with the Miami Heat. He was actually on the team in both seasons when the Silver and Black faced off against the South Beach squad in the finals of 2013 and 2014.

He was a major piece of the Orlando Magic when Dwight Howard was at the peak of his powers, leading their team deep in the postseason in consecutive years. They went to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, but couldn't close the deal. All the while, Lewis was making his presence felt as a floor spacer, defender, and opportunistic finisher at the basket.

This was at a time when big men shooting threes was just really taking off in the NBA. He shot 38% from deep, and you had to respect his abilities whenever he was on the floor. That's what the Spurs need from Sochan. He's spent a lot of time working on fixing his form over the past few seasons. Based on the videos we've seen this summer, it seems to have paid off.

The hitch in his jumper is almost non-existent. Now, we need to see if it translates to the game. Lewis can help him keep his form and focus consistent. Sochan will also need to continue to learn when to cut and when not to, when to rotate around the perimeter, and, of course, knock down the shots when they come to him.

Jeremy is already a better defender than the former Miami champion was in his prime, so he has a leg up there. But the offense is what's lacking. He's sitting on the fringes right now, and smart analysts are expressing so much caution about his long-term place on the team that he needs to turn it around now because the Spurs are likely thinking the same things.

How everyone fits next to Victor Wembanyama is going to be at the top of the list for evaluating players, and they took him out of the Wemby lineup as a starter. That should be a red alert for the 22-year-old defender. Rashard Lewis may be his best bet at fixing it now before it's truly too late.