Knicks to sign F Jeremy Sochan off waivers

The New York Knicks will sign former lottery pick Jeremy Sochan for the rest of the season once he clears waivers from the San Antonio Spurs, per Shams Charania.

Sochan, 23, attended Baylor and was drafted ninth overall by the Spurs in 2022. He immediately established himself as a pest of a wing and was a two-time Rising Star. Sochan averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in 212 career games in San Antonio. However, coach Mitch Johnson moved Sochan out of the rotation in favor of rookie Carter Bryant, who has produced well in extended minutes.

In New York, Sochan figures to come off the bench as depth behind Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby. He has the size and the length at 6’8″, 230 pounds and exactly what the Knicks need. Especially with Anunoby particularly injury-prone.

Jeremy Sochan can also look forward to more minutes in New York. At least significantly more than the 12.8 per game he averaged with the Spurs..

Sochan won’t play those same minutes in New York, at least not while Anunoby is healthy. However, until the Knicks’ best defender is back from his toe injury, Sochan could easily slot into the starting lineup. The only thing he can’t do is shoot threes. Maybe coach Mike Brown can amend that at least a little bit?

But it’s clear why the Knicks are signing Jeremy Sochan. They’re toughening up the team’s perimeter D ahead of the playoffs. New York has gotten shellacked not once but twice by the top-seeded Detroit Pistons this year, and they were shorthanded both times too. Most recently, in a 118-80 drubbing on February 6, the Knicks were without both Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns.

And who do the Knicks play one week from today in their first action after the All-Star Break? That would be the same Detroit Pistons. Now add that the game is at Madison Square Garden and that the Pistons beat New York 121-90 there last month.

The New York Knicks signing Jeremy Sochan isn’t just a move to help the team. It’s to put the Pistons on notice. The Knicks they dominated twice in the first half are not the same team anymore. Ideally, the Knicks have a full lineup ready to go and put up a fight against Cade Cunningham & Co.

Because come Friday, February 19, who do you think will be guarding Cunningham from the opening tip? Especially if he starts the game?

That would be Jeremy Sochan.