Spurs’ mind is obviously made up about Jeremy Sochan’s future

It just isn't San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan's season. This season was expected to be a make-or-break year with him playing for a new contract, yet it has turned out to be a complete failure for our Polish Prince.

Many expected him to break out an improved 3-point shot and solidify himself as a key rotation player on an up-and-coming playoff team.

Instead, he started the season hurt and never got on track. He now finds himself largely out of the rotation minus a few spot minutes here or there.

Even with starting power forward Harrison Barnes struggling, coach Mitch Johnson seems completely disinterested in playing Sochan meaningful minutes. Look, Johnson gets a lot of crap from Spurs fans, but he's obviously made the right call.

Spurs’ mind is obviously made up about Jeremy Sochan’s future

Sochan is an awkward fit at best, and opposing teams were likely looking forward to the prospect of hiding their center on him while putting a wing on star Victor Wembanyama.

His fit with Wembanyama alone is enough to bench him, considering opponents dare him to shoot. That cramps the Spurs' already delicate spacing and makes life harder on Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper.

It's too bad for Sochan, who was never really able to get on track this season. Now it seems like an almost certainty that he will be traded. After all, the Spurs seem unlikely to extend him a qualifying offer with him out of the rotation. In that case he'd become a free agent after this season.

The Spurs will do right by Jeremy Sochan

That wouldn't be fair to Sochan, and San Antonio has historically tried to do right by their players. Trading him ahead of the deadline would at least give him the chance to earn playing time and a new contract.

Fans shouldn't expect much in return for their fan favorite. Something in the ballpark of New York Knicks center Guerschon Yabusele, salary filler, and a 2032 second might be the most realistic return the Spurs should expect.

However, the Ringers' Zach Lowe did mention that San Antonio would probably package Sochan with a first-round pick to try and land a rotation player. That would likely entail a larger trade.

Interestingly, Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On Podcast recently proposed trading Sochan, a first-round pick, Harrison Barnes, and Kelly Olynyk for Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. Clearly, this would be the best-case scenario, with the Silver and Black trading Sochan for a potential all-star.

No matter what, however, it appears that Sochan may have already played his final game with the team.