Jeremy Sochan gives the Mavericks another intriguing bet on upside

The Dallas Mavericks' offseason was filled with swings on upside. They traded for Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser, and signed Jett Howard and Walter Clayton Jr. right before the regular season began. All of these players were former first-round picks, and while some struggled in their previous stops, they now have a chance to thrive in a new environment in Dallas.

The Mavericks made another move in this same vein over the weekend when the Texas Legends selected 23-year-old forward Jeremy Sochan with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League Draft. This move comes just months after he won the 2026 NBA Finals with the New York Knicks.

Jeremy Sochan has the resume to intrigue Dallas

Sochan was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He was also part of the All-Rookie Second Team during his rookie season, joined by Jalen Duren, Tari Eason, Jaden Ivey, and Jabari Smith Jr.

Sochan showed plenty of promise during the beginning of his NBA career in San Antonio, and while his production dipped last season, the Mavericks' move to get him should not fly under the radar. He's now within their organization as a 23-year-old who has shown plenty of flashes, and he could end up being someone the Mavs give a standard contract to in the future if he has a good season in the G League.

Over his first four seasons, Sochan averaged 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 47 percent from the field. His defense and energy made him a staple of the Spurs' rotation over the 3.5 seasons he spent there, and he averaged 25.3 minutes per game.

The former Baylor Bear was one of San Antonio's defensive staples, often taking on the role of guarding the other team's best player. This season with Texas gives him the chance to prove he still belongs in the NBA after being cut by the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this month.

The Mavs have an advantage with Sochan

While he could sign with any team if he plays well for the Legends, the Mavs have a unique advantage. They can evaluate him during games and practice, and the constant collaboration between Texas and Dallas' coaching staffs will allow the organization to prioritize certain areas of his game to develop.

"This is a selection that the Mavs front office is very excited about as well," Texas Legends General Manager Terry Sullivan said on Saturday.

Why bringing in Sochan was a low-risk move for the Mavericks

Bringing in Sochan was an extremely low-risk move, as he was easily among the best players in this year's G League Draft. He was just on an NBA roster earlier this month, and after averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 4-for-5 from 3-point range across four preseason games, it looked like he had a chance to make Portland's roster.

The Blazers ended up waiving him, but the Mavericks could look like geniuses later this season if this move works out and they give him a standard contract. Masai Ujiri historically loves wings, as shown by Dallas' surplus of frontcourt depth, and Sochan could be an intriguing addition to that group if a roster spot becomes open.

He's 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, giving him ideal size to play power forward. His motor and lateral quickness allow him to defend guards, and with the Mavericks' need for more point-of-attack defense, he could become a good solution.

Drafting Sochan to be part of the team's G League affiliate may seem like an under-the-radar move that won't make an impact on the Mavericks, but if his resume has proven anything, it's that he deserves a shot in the NBA somewhere.

Sochan still has plenty of juice left in the tank despite having an underwhelming season for the Spurs and Knicks last season, and he could find himself as one of the Mavericks' forwards off the bench if he has a bounce-back year for the Legends.

The organization has another former lottery pick to evaluate, and his growth in Frisco could be a fun storyline to keep an eye on for Mavericks super fans.

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