Jeremy Sochan's easiest path to the Mavericks is already gone

The Texas Legends drafted Jeremy Sochan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League draft over the weekend, giving the Dallas Mavericks the perfect chance to evaluate his development following his first NBA championship with the New York Knicks over the summer.

Jeremy Sochan can't sign a two-way contract with the Mavericks

While the idea of Sochan joining the Mavericks is intriguing after their G League affiliate prioritized drafting him with the first pick, his path to a roster spot isn't so simple. All three of Dallas' two-way spots are filled by Walter Clayton Jr., Tobi Lawal, and Jett Howard, and even if these spots weren't occupied, Sochan is no longer eligible for a two-way contract.

The former Baylor Bear just wrapped up his fourth NBA season, meaning that he can't sign a two-way deal anymore. Players must have three years or less of service time to sign a two-way deal, making Sochan's path to becoming a Maverick much more complicated than it would have been had he just wrapped up his third season.

Two-way deals are non-guaranteed, making them easy to get out of, and Dallas could just waive one of the three aforementioned players if they wanted to sign him if he had one less year of NBA experience.

Dallas could orchestrate a trade to make room for Sochan

Now, the most logical route for Sochan to join the team would be if Dallas makes a consolidation trade to open up a roster spot later in the season. Trading more players than you bring back is a great way to open up a roster spot, and the Mavericks could make such a move after a summer filled with trade rumors.

P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford were both floated as trade candidates for Dallas. While the rumors about Washington were new, Gafford has been in trade rumors for multiple seasons.

Moving on from Gafford due to the team's surplus of frontcourt depth could be a strong move, especially once Santi Aldama and Dereck Lively II are healthy, as the team could target more depth in the backcourt to better balance the roster. This would also give them the chance to create a roster spot for Sochan depending on the deal, and his skill set would be valuable for the Mavericks.

Sochan has the defensive tools that the Mavs need

Sochan is a player Dallas' front office is excited to bring into the organization, and his defensive versatility and energy would make him an intriguing piece within the Mavs' frontcourt. Masai Ujiri historically values versatile wings with good size and length, and at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Sochan fits this mold.

He loves guarding the other team's best player, and his defense-first mindset, combined with his lateral quickness, energy, and motor, makes him a menace on that end. Dallas needs more defense at the point of attack, and Sochan could be their answer to this problem if he has a strong season with the Legends.

"Incredibly excited to add him to our group," Legends general manager Terry Sullivan said on Saturday. "He's a versatile wing on both ends of the floor, high-IQ facilitator offensively, athletic, versatile defender that can switch and guard multiple positions. Our directive here is to find and develop players in a competitive environment, and so we think Jeremy is a great fit, checks all the boxes we need in a guy that we're looking to develop long term."

Dallas can't wait around for Sochan

The Mavericks may have to act fast, though, if they want to sign Sochan to a standard contract. An emphatic start to the season for the Legends could lead to a different team signing him, as many teams across the league have left spots on their 15-man rosters open to begin the season.

Dallas is in a good spot, given that he's a member of their organization and has a front-row seat to evaluate his growth, but making him a Maverick won't be a cakewalk.

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