Leading up to this year’s NBA trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns were reported to have interest in upgrading their power forward position.
Among the names floated in those reports were Charlotte Hornets freshly-suspended forward Miles Bridges, Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks and former San Antonio Spurs lottery pick Jeremy Sochan.
While the Suns ultimately didn’t make any deals at that position, instead trading away Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis for salary cap relief and netting Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony in return, an avenue to getting one of their reported targets has now opened up.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Spurs agreed to release Sochan, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Sochan fell out of favor in San Antonio this season. After making the 2023 All-Rookie team and averaging 25 minutes or more for three straight seasons with the Spurs to begin his career, the 22-year-old averaged just 12.8 minutes per game across 28 appearances this season (all off the bench).
Now, Sochan is free to sign wherever he wants for the remainder of the season, which can potentially act as a tryout of sorts for a new long-term contract this summer.
Could the Suns look to sign Sochan after his release?
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Suns and Knicks were among the teams interested in Sochan’s services prior to the trade deadline. He says that’s “something to keep in mind” as we monitor Sochan’s future, adding that both of those teams have open roster spots.
The Knicks and Suns were among the teams who had trade discussions surrounding former Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan prior to the trade deadline, as I previously reported on @hoopshype. Something to keep in mind as he becomes a free agent now and both teams have open roster spots. https://t.co/4ByTTkjUX2
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 11, 2026
The Suns remain very thin at the power forward spot, opting to play either Dillon Brooks or Royce O’Neale in that position in small-ball lineups.
For the most part, those small-ball sets have worked well for the Suns, but it’s not been unusual to see bigger opponents bully Phoenix from time to time. Joel Embiid scored 33 points in a win over the Suns on Feb. 7, and the combo of Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall for the Dallas Mavericks combined for 58 points against Phoenix Feb. 10.
The Suns could certainly afford to add size, and Sochan’s 6-foot-8, 230-pound frame fits the bill.
The downside? Sochan isn’t going to spread the floor as a career 28.7% shooter from 3-point range. He’s been even worse from long range this season at 25.7%.
Still, Sochan has been an effective role player in the past, averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists during his sophomore campaign with the Spurs when he started 73 of the 74 games he played in.
Regardless of where he winds up, the change of scenery potential for a Sochan rebound shouldn’t be ignored. At worst, the Suns would acquire more frontcourt depth for the stretch run of the regular season and (ideally) playoffs.
If, that is, he doesn’t ultimately sign with the Knicks or elsewhere.