Is the Knicks Free Agent Acquisition as Good as Advertised?
On February 13th, 2026, the New York Knicks claimed Jeremy Sochan off waivers following his release from the San Antonio Spurs. This signing addresses frontcourt depth after the Knicks moved on from Guerschon Yabusele. While Yabusele failed to replicate the production he once showed with the Philadelphia 76ers, New York is now betting on Sochan’s upside and versatility. Through his first two appearances with the Knicks, Sochan has recorded just one made field goal along with one rebound and one assist, a slow start for a former lottery pick out of Baylor University. With the Knicks battling the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, expectations are elevated. The question becomes whether those expectations are realistic for a 22-year-old still carving out his identity.
Sochan reportedly drew interest from 10 teams upon his release, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, and Phoenix Suns. At six-foot-eight, he offers positional flexibility, capable of handling the ball in transition like a guard while defending with the physicality of a traditional power forward. However, his NBA career has been defined more by potential than production. During San Antonio’s rebuild, Sochan never emerged as a primary scoring option, and following the franchise’s youth movement, his role diminished. Adjusting to fluctuating minutes proved challenging, and consistency became elusive. While the tools remain evident, translating them into steady impact has been the hurdle.
In New York, the pathway to major minutes is narrow. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby anchor the starting frontcourt, and Mitchell Robinson remains a fixture when healthy. That leaves Sochan competing with Mohamed Diawara for rotational minutes. Diawara’s length and defensive activity have flashed in limited action, making the battle for minutes a legitimate one. Head coach Mike Brown has shown a willingness to reward effort and situational fit rather than reputation. Reports of tension between Sochan and Spurs leadership may have contributed to his departure, but in New York, accountability will dictate opportunity.
The Spurs selecting Carter Bryant with the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft further signaled a shift away from Sochan’s role in San Antonio. Now, under Brown’s direction, Sochan must prove he can contribute to a team with postseason ambitions. Brown has not hesitated to shorten rotations, as evidenced by Jordan Clarkson’s reduced role despite his past Sixth Man of the Year Award success. With the Knicks firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and focused on positioning for the NBA Playoffs, production will outweigh pedigree. Still only 22-years-old, Sochan has time to stabilize his trajectory, but the margin for error is slimmer on a team chasing contention.
