What the decision to extend Jeremy Socan’s contract means for the future

A few days after San Antonio Spurs practiced team options on the entry-level contracts of Victor Vembanyama and Stephon Castlethey let the deadline expire Jeremy Sochanfirst deal. The ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft could now become a restricted free agent next summer. That would happen if the Spurs offer the former Baylor Bear a qualifying offer before June 2026.

While Socan had to to navigate a wide range of realities since arriving in San Antonio, including the play trial that will begin in 2023-2024it’s also fair to call his first three years as a pro underwhelming. During that span, the 6-foot-8 forward’s stats remained largely unchanged. After a year in which he averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in just 54 games due to injury, Socan was sidelined again with wrist issues.

“Preparing for EuroBasket, I kind of tweaked my calf,” the 22-year-old said at Media Day about his first injury of the summer.

“Some minor injuries, so it’s not too bad. But it’s been a long recovery process, there’s been ups and downs, but I feel good. So that’s the most important thing.”

Jeremy Sochan focuses on improvement

While Socan’s stats haven’t budged, his shooting percentage is huge. A shooter with 45% and 44% from the field, he shot 54% last season. Work on his form includes a one-handed free throw.

“It’s been a long process. It’s not always going to be perfect, but a couple of things we’ve worked on are my wrist position, my elbow, how I lift the ball, how I catch the ball, my footwork. So there’s been a lot of different things,” he told local media.

“But I think I’m in a good place. Yeah, I’m very excited to show you that.”

Socan’s summer work wasn’t limited to his stroke, as he hopes to help the team to a winning record for for the first time during his tenure.

“For me it’s all around, I’m working on everything,” the Spurs reserve said, “I think both strength and fitness were really important. The type of player I am, I play quite aggressively and physically. So just getting my body ready for that for 82 games is really important.

“On the court it’s the same thing. I’m working on my shot, my ball handling, just reading the game on both sides of the court, and that was really it.”

What the Spurs move means for the future

There has been a lot of talk about the Spurs’ logjam at point guard. The truth is, however, that Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox — who will also miss the start of the regular season with an injury — and Dylan Harper alongside Victor Wembanyama will form the identity of these Spurs.

It’s a reality that means Sochan, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, once the pieces who primarily followed their generation’s big man — and all still young — must take on smaller roles. Johnson and Vassell were the top two scorers in the organization a year before Webby arrived, while Sochan qualified as a rising NBA star that same season.

That doesn’t mean their days are numbered. That means Spurs’ big priorities are elsewhere.