When the New York Knicks signed Jeremy Sochan on the buyout market, the expectation was clear. New York believed it had secured a valuable piece for a team firmly in the title conversation.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Sochan had as many as 10 interested suitors, with his sudden availability following his release from the San Antonio Spurs coming as a surprise.
While the former No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft has yet to develop a consistent offensive identity, his defensive versatility has always been his defining strength, with the ability to guard multiple positions across the wing and frontcourt.
The 22-year-old represented a low-risk, high-upside addition. However, the early returns suggest the fit has yet to translate into meaningful on-court impact.
New York Knicks Yet to See Immediate Impact From Sochan
Through his first four games with New York, Sochan has logged just 30 total minutes, scoring only four points.
During that stretch, he has shot 2-of-6 from the field while adding five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
His overall impact has also reflected in the plus-minus column, where he sits at minus-13, including a minus-10 performance in a recent win over the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks went 2-2 across those four games.
Sochan’s arrival has coincided with reduced opportunities for rookie Mohamed Diawara, who had begun carving out a promising role prior to the roster change.
On February 11, Diawara delivered one of his most impressive performances of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds while shooting 5-of-10 from the field and knocking down four three-pointers in 20 minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite emerging as a dependable two-way option and shooting 27-of-67 from three-point range this season, good for an efficient 40.3% conversion rate, Diawara has played just 19 total minutes since Sochan joined the team, including a DNP against Chicago.
Even with fluctuating opportunities, the second-round pick has quietly produced efficient numbers. Across 10 appearances in February, he is averaging 5.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in just 13 minutes per game while shooting 57.1% from the field and an impressive 44% from three-point range.
With Sochan still searching for rhythm, the door may be reopening for Diawara to reclaim a rotation role he had steadily earned.
Mohamed Diawara Could Soon Reclaim Rotation Spot
Sports Illustrated’s Henry Brown believes Diawara is well-positioned to reestablish himself in the Knicks’ rotation following Sochan’s slow start.
“Diawara has been ready to do whatever’s required of the Knicks all season long, and now that his potential replacement looks nowhere near ready to contend, he should have no problem playing his way into filling in for the descending Sochan,” Brown wrote.
“Diawara’s already done the near-impossible by lapping every other member of the Knicks’ young core and clinching a treasured reserve 3-and-D slot in the lineup, proving to his veteran head coach that rookies can factor into win-now environments.”
“And while Sochan had an attractive-enough background to earn him elite standing in an underwhelming draft years ago, he was released from the contending Spurs for a reason.”
Sochan’s brief tenure has also coincided with two losses to Eastern Conference rivals, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, both of which were one-sided defeats.
While those results raise questions about the Knicks’ depth consistency, the team remains firmly in contention.
The New York Knicks currently sit third in the Eastern Conference at 37-22. They trail the Boston Celtics by just two games while sitting level with the fourth-place Cavaliers, who have won eight of their last 10 games.
With the playoff race tightening, rotation reliability has become increasingly important. If Sochan’s struggles continue, Diawara’s efficiency and steady development could make him difficult for the coaching staff to overlook.
Knicks Rookie Emerging as Threat to Highly-Publicized Buyout Addition