Heading into next season, the San Antonio Spurs roster is looking very similar to last year’s. Outside of a few veteran additions, some of whom could get waived, the group San Antonio has put together is mostly the same as the one they rolled out last season. Well, except for Victor Wembanyama, that is.
The 19-year-old Frenchman is set to make a massive impact for the Spurs, but more importantly, he could change the roles of the players around him. Devin Vassell will be a secondary scorer, Keldon Johnson could be the team’s sixth man, Tre Jones will have another star to pass to, and Zach Collins is going to start – all of these are big changes.
However, perhaps the most underrated storyline to monitor is that of Jeremy Sochan. After spending 95% of his minutes at the power forward last season, Sochan will primarily be playing the small forward this year, with Wembanyama and Collins up front.
Unfortunately, without a consistent three-point shot, Sochan’s offensive ceiling is limited. That said, his defensive potential is through the roof, and that’s where he could thrive.
Collins will be guarding bigs, and Wembanyama will undoubtedly be roaming the paint, too. But with Sochan’s defensive instincts and physical attributes, he could be an absolute monster on that end for the Spurs.
He’ll likely be taking on the challenge of guarding opposing teams’ best players. The likes of Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, and more will fall right into his lap. This will be a challenge for the youngster, but not one that he’s unprepared for.
With the defensive tools he has in his locker, Sochan’s goal for this season should be an All-Defensive team. Wembanyama, Vassell, and Johnson will be taking the bulk of the shots, but Sochan can earn his minutes on the defensive end.
His potential on that side of the ball is through the roof, and with the structure San Antonio has in place around him, he has a chance to make some huge strides next year.
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