Released by San Antonio, Jeremy Sochan lands with the Knicks — added competition for Mohamed Diawara

Jeremy Sochan didn’t linger on the open market. Just hours after being released by the San Antonio Spurs, the 22-year-old Polish international landed in New York, where the Knicks opted to take a low-risk look at his skill set, signing him to a minimum deal for the remainder of the season.

Jeremy Sochan joining Knicks after Spurs release – via @ESPN App https://t.co/uSsZn8N6xD

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 12, 2026

A surprising departure from San Antonio despite interest from several franchises

Sochan’s release sent a ripple through the league. Despite his name circulating in trade chatter for months, San Antonio was unable to line up a deal it deemed worthwhile before the deadline. With internal competition tightening the rotation, the forward had gradually slid to the fringes under Mitch Johnson, a quiet fade that made the timing of the move all the more jarring.

Interest surfaced quickly. The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns all explored the possibility, but it was the New York Knicks who ultimately moved fastest. New York capitalized on the financial flexibility created by the trade of Guerschon Yabusele to Chicago, using the opening to fill its 15th guaranteed roster spot with Sochan and complete its rotation.

A versatile profile to strengthen the New York rotation

Sochan arrives in New York with an intriguing résumé and a fairly narrow runway. The New York Knicks sit second in the Eastern Conference — mirroring the standing of his former San Antonio Spurs out West — and are betting that his versatility can translate in a higher-stakes environment. In San Antonio, the Polish forward toggled between roles: primary defensive assignments, small-ball minutes at the five, and the occasional stretch of ball-handling when lineups demanded it.

There’s value there. Sochan can get you his ten points on a given night, defend multiple positions, and bring an edge that tends to register internally as much as it does on film. He was well liked in the locker room and built a visible on-court connection with Victor Wembanyama, a reflection of both his energy and adaptability.

In New York, the margin for error is thinner. Under Mike Brown, he’ll need to carve out a role within a system that’s already humming, but his defensive flexibility and motor fit cleanly with a team thinking beyond April. For Sochan, it’s a timely reset — a chance to reboot his trajectory in a win-now context, with the immediate goal no longer development, but a deep playoff push and a real shot at the Finals.