Jeremy Sochan plans to sign with the Knicks after accepting waivers, source tells AP

NEW YORK (AP) — Jeremy Sochan plans to sign with the New York Knicks once he clears waivers, a person familiar with the details said Thursday.

The forward will soon have a new home after the San Antonio Spurs agreed to cut him on Wednesday so he can seek another team with the possibility of more playing time.

Announcement

His plan to join the Knicks was confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no moves can be made yet. This was first reported by ESPN.

The Spurs selected Sochan with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 draft and he averaged 10.4 points with San Antonio. But he had lost his place in the rotation this season, playing just 28 of 53 games and scoring 4.1 points in 12.8 minutes per game.

Spurs agreed to waive Sochan after they failed to find a trade for him before last week’s deadline.

“We were all very aware of his desire to be part of the rotation, given more opportunities than he’s had, especially recently,” coach Mitch Johnson said before the Spurs played at Golden State on Wednesday. “We wanted to do right by him and make sure he had that opportunity before the end of the year.”

Announcement

Sochan thanked and said goodbye to San Antonio in a social media post Thursday.

“I have moved a lot throughout my life, and this is the longest time I have been in the same place since I was 15,” he wrote. “Through the ups and downs, I have learned a lot, continued to grow and have always stayed true to myself. This community and fans have embraced me since day one! It’s bigger than basketball and I will be forever grateful.”

Sochan, known for his often colorful hairstyles, will join a Knicks team that has been looking to fill the bench around its starting five. They acquired Jose Alvarado from New Orleans on a deadline deal and he scored a season-high 26 points in a win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

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