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Jonathan Kuminga dribbles the ball while guarded by Jeremy Sochan defends. The San Antonio Spurs recently waived Sochan, making him available for the Golden State Warriors as a free agent.
The Golden State Warriors are reassessing their options for a final roster spot after a notable name emerged on the buyout market.
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, the San Antonio Spurs have agreed to part ways with forward Jeremy Sochan, allowing the former lottery pick to become an unrestricted free agent.
“The San Antonio Spurs and forward Jeremy Sochan have agreed on his release to allow the 2023 All-Rookie Team member to become a free agent,” Charania wrote on X. “Sochan is expected to decide among multiple interested teams.”
The development comes as Golden State weighs its next move following the conversion of Pat Spencer from a two-way contract to a standard deal — a transaction that signaled a potential shift away from earlier buyout plans.
Former Lottery Pick Seeks Fresh Start
Selected ninth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-8 Sochan quickly carved out a role in San Antonio, starting 149 games over his first three seasons while averaging 27.3 minutes per game. Over that span, he produced 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest.
Defensively, Sochan earned consistent trust from longtime Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and interim head coach Mitch Johnson, thanks to his positional versatility, physicality, and ability to guard multiple positions.
Offensively, however, the fit never fully stabilized. Sochan has shot just 28.7% from three for his career, and San Antonio experimented with his role — at times deploying him as a point guard, a small-ball center, and a hybrid forward — without settling on a long-term offensive identity.
By December, Sochan had fallen out of the regular rotation, and he became a trade candidate. NBA insider Marc Stein previously reported that the Spurs had granted his representatives permission to explore trade options ahead of the deadline. No deal materialized.
San Antonio ultimately stood pat at the trade deadline — one of only three NBA teams not to make an in-season trade — before opting for a clean break that gives Sochan a chance to reset before the offseason.
Warriors Re-evaluate Buyout Strategy
Sochan’s availability arrives as Golden State appears to be backing away from previously reported interest in Lonzo Ball.
Stein reported that the Warriors’ stance shifted after Spencer’s contract conversion, combined with lingering concerns around Ball’s medical history.
“There were some fresh rumbles over the weekend that the Warriors might opt not to sign Lonzo Ball in the end after converting Pat Spencer from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract,” Stein wrote Monday in The Stein Line. “(Chris) Haynes reported that multiple teams are reviewing Ball’s medicals to determine whether to sign the veteran guard, who became a free agent after Cleveland dealt him to Utah to lower its luxury tax bill.”
With one roster spot still open, Golden State is now surveying alternatives — including younger, positional defenders who could provide athleticism on the wings after losing Jonathan Kuminga.
A Different Bet Than Kuminga
Sochan’s profile naturally invites comparison to Kuminga, whom the Warriors moved at the deadline in a deal that brought in Kristaps Porziņģis.
Both players entered the league as high-upside forwards with elite physical tools, but Sochan’s calling card has been defense and role adaptability rather than on-ball scoring ambition.
Because he is still in his fourth NBA season, Sochan technically remains two-way eligible, giving teams additional flexibility if a standard roster spot is unavailable. Assuming he clears waivers, he will be free to sign outright with any club.
The decision now facing the Warriors is whether to take a short-term flyer on a 22-year-old former lottery pick whose defensive versatility aligns with Steve Kerr’s system — or to prioritize veteran depth as they navigate the stretch run without Stephen Curry.
Either way, the buyout market has shifted — and Jeremy Sochan has become one of its most intriguing names.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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