The Nuggets are expected to be active on the buyout market. And the buyout market just added the Nuggets' best match yet. Jeremy Sochan, the fourth-year power forward who was the 9th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, has been released by the San Antonio Spurs. Sochan is now expected to decide amongst multiple interested teams, including the Knicks and Suns, who were rumored to be trying to land him before the trade deadline.
And I would expect the Nuggets to be interested in Sochan, too. He's generally regarded as an above-average defender, and Stat Muse agrees, placing him at a 113.1 rating vs a league average of about 115. But that's in very limited playing time this year. Sochan has had a bit of a falling out with the Spurs, playing in just 28 games and seeing only 12.8 minutes of game action, well below his career average of 25.3.
When he's been on the floor, he's actually been remarkably consistent, averaging 11, 11.6, and 11.4 points per game over the last three seasons. He was an NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team selection, and as a former lottery pick, there's still untapped potential that the Nuggets may be able to squeeze out.
At worst, he's more than an able body, which, for now, is the bar for what the Nuggets are looking to bring in off the buyout market. However, head coach David Adelman has been hinting that the Nuggets would prefer more of a veteran presence who wouldn't see much court time.
Why Sochan makes more sense than a veteran
Sochan's defense alone should be enough for the Nuggets to give him a look. They're playing some bottom-tier levels of D this season, and someone you can put in late in games for a stop would be hugely beneficial. The Nuggets are 13-13 in clutch games this season, and perhaps a defensive stopper would have that number at 16-10.
The front office and coaching staff will ultimately make a decision on their direction soon. I just hope it's for someone who can play some D. Your best defense can be a good offense, but if you're not getting stops, and you're allowing open looks all over, a defensive-minded player is probably the right way to start your search.
If the Nuggets aren't able to land Sochan, they'll have to be patient. The buyout market is slowly filling up. Once full, the Nuggets should be near the top of any player's list.