By Jeje Gomez | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-09-26 23:01:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
NBA新赛季的脚步日益临近。马刺队已基本完成了休赛期的运作，签下了15名身背标准合同的球员，并填满了三个双向合同名额。尽管训练营后可能还会有一些人员调整，但预计不会有重大变动。
目前，只剩下一个重大决策悬而未决，而这很可能成为周一媒体日上的热门话题。杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 已经具备了提前续约的资格，但至今尚未签下新合同。虽然在常规赛开始前一天，双方仍有时间达成协议，但目前还没有任何关于谈判的报道。
马刺队可能只是在秘密行事，但同样有可能他们只是出于谨慎，暂时搁置了提供续约合同的打算。让我们来分析一下索汉的市场价值，评估他是否已经赢得了续约资格，以及总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 是否应该给他一份新合同。
效力三个赛季后，非明星球员在新秀合同的提前续约中通常拿不到高薪
在过去三年里，锡安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson)、贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant)、达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)、安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards)、泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton)、拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)、凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham)、斯科蒂·巴恩斯 (Scottie Barnes)、埃文·莫布里 (Evan Mobley) 和弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 都签下了顶薪合同。在他们之后，签下3000万美元或更高年薪的球员包括泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro)、乔丹·普尔 (Jordan Poole)、德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane)、R.J.·巴雷特 (R.J. Barrett)、杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs)、杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson)、杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green) 和阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Sengun)。可以肯定的是，无论是以提前续约还是自由球员的身份，索汉都无法得到这类合同。
在此期间，年薪在2000万至2900万美元之间的球员有德安德烈·亨特 (De’Andre Hunter)、小凯文·波特 (Kevin Porter Jr.)、德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell)、杰登·麦克丹尼尔斯 (Jaden McDaniels) 和特雷·墨菲三世 (Trey Murphy III)。这个级别的球员大多是具备即插即用技能和稳定贡献的角色球员，如果他们能实现飞跃，其表现将远超薪水价值；即便只是在合同期内成长为优秀的首发，也能证明自己的合同物有所值。事实上，三年内只有六名球员获得了年薪2000万美元以上的提前续约合同，这表明各支球队在非必要的情况下，并不愿意提前为角色球员支付高薪。例如，迄今为止，比索汉成就更高的同届新秀塔里·伊森 (Tari Eason) 和基根·穆雷 (Keegan Murray) 都还未签下提前续约合同。
其他所有签下提前续约合同的11名三年级新秀（布兰登·克拉克 (Brandon Clarke)、纳西尔·利特尔 (Nassir Little)、奥涅卡·奥孔古 (Onyeka Okongwu)、德尼·阿夫迪亚 (Deni Avdija)、约什·格林 (Josh Green)、科尔·安东尼 (Cole Anthony)、阿龙·内史密斯 (Aaron Nesmith)、齐克·纳吉 (Zeke Naji)、佩顿·普里查德 (Payton Pritchard)、科里·基斯珀特 (Cory Kispert) 和杰登·哈迪 (Jaden Hardy)），他们的年薪都在1550万美元或以下。他们之所以能签下合同，是因为接受了对球队非常友好的条款，而不是选择等到成为受限制自由球员。如果单从过往表现而非潜力来看，索汉很可能就属于这一梯队。
马刺或许希望在承诺之前看到更多表现
关于索汉续约的一些担忧并非他本人的过错。首先是伤病。在三个赛季中，索汉有两个赛季的出场次数都少于60场。上赛季，他正值强势开局之际却早早因伤缺阵；今年夏天，他又因伤无法通过参加欧锦赛来提升自己的身价。其次，由于球队需要，马刺进行了大量试验，这让他一部分时间担任持球控卫，另一部分时间在进攻端扮演中锋。那么，除了是一名球风强硬、活力十足的优秀防守者之外，索汉的定位究竟是什么？这个问题至关重要。
而完全由索汉自身引起，可能导致球队犹豫的方面，是他的跳投。上赛季，索汉的兩分球命中率首次表现出色，但他的罚球命中率却大幅下滑，三分球投射也停滞不前。尽管他减少了每次持球后的远投出手，并且获得了大量空位机会，但索汉的三分命中率仍为30.8%，与2023/24赛季完全相同。他与文班亚马的场上兼容性有所提升，但这主要是因为这位大个子成为了更有效的外线威胁，而索汉自己并没有进步。他仍然存在着类似约什·哈特 (Josh Hart) 的问题，即对手可以放心地让他们的中锋去防守他。
伤病困扰、不成功的角色转换，以及他最终能否成为一名合格射手（从而避免对手肆意收缩禁区）等悬而未决的问题，都是合情合理的担忧，这些都可能让马刺在任何续约谈判中踌躇不前。即便合同金额对球队十分友好，情况也是如此。
受限制自由球员身份让马刺手握全部主动权
毫无疑问，索汉有他的优点。但问题是，当马刺完全可以再等一年再做决定时，他们还有必要提供提前续约合同吗？明年休赛期将会有更多的薪金空间，但马刺届时可以匹配索汉签下的任何报价合同。受限制自由球员市场的唯一风险是另一支球队开出一份离谱的报价，但从目前来看，他这类球员的市场价似乎并不高。小德里克·琼斯 (Derrick Jones Jr.) 年薪1000万美元，这看起来是一个合理的基准线。马蒂斯·赛布尔 (Matisse Thybulle) 的年薪是1150万美元。而桑迪·阿尔达马 (Santi Aldama) 在等到自己第四个赛季结束后，才签下了一份略高于中产特例的合同，这可以看作是一个合理的上限。
正如我们上文所见，提前续约的主要目的，要么是让明星球员开心，要么是寻求签下划算的“白菜价”合同。与索汉的交易无法实现前者，只有在能达成后者的情况下才有意义。此外，近来各支球队在处理受限制自由球员时，越来越倾向于利用自己的主动权。马刺可以像当年与凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 和德文·瓦塞尔达成协议那样，与索汉找到一个折中的方案。但他们并非必须如此。明年夏天，索汉的合同很可能仍在可承受范围内；即便出现小概率事件，有球队为他开出疯狂的报价合同，马刺也可以选择匹配留下他，或者放他离开，转而专注于培养卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant)。
理想情况下，球队会与这位数据无法完全体现其贡献的球员找到一个双方都满意的中间点。但考虑到管理层手握全部主动权，并且对这位魅力十足的前锋未来的表现和定位存在合理的担忧，如果他们不急于可能过高地支付索汉的薪水，那么谁也无法指责他们。
点击查看原文：Why the Spurs might not offer Jeremy Sochan an extension
Why the Spurs might not offer Jeremy Sochan an extension
The NBA season is approaching fast. The Spurs have largely finalized their offseason, signing 15 players to standard contracts and filling their three two-way spots. There might be some moves after training camp, but they shouldn’t be major.
Only one major decision remains undecided, and could be a topic of conversation on media day on Monday. Jeremy Sochan is eligible for an extension but hasn’t signed one yet. There’s still time until the day before the regular season starts to come to an agreement, but there haven’t been reports about negotiations.
The Spurs may be just being secretive, but it’s also possible they are just simply being cautious and holding off on offering an extension at all. Let’s take a look at what the market value for Sochan might be, whether he’s done enough to earn an extension, and whether Brian Wright should give him one.
Non-stars don’t get paid much in rookie contract extensions after three seasons
In the past three years, Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, LaMelo Ball, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, and Franz Wagner signed for the max. After those guys, the ones who signed for $30 million or more were Tyler Herro, Jordan Poole, Desmond Bane, R.J. Barrett, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Green, and Alperen Sengun. It’s safe to say Sochan won’t be getting that type of deal, whether on an extension or free agency.
The players who got between $20 million and $29 million during that period were De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Porter Jr., Devin Vassell, Jaden McDaniels, and Trey Murphy III. This group is comprised of role players with plug-and-play skills and production who could outplay their salary if they make a leap or justify their contract if they just become good starters during their deals. The fact that only six guys have gotten $20 million+ extension in three years suggests that teams are hesitant to pay role guys before they have to. So far, more accomplished Sochan’s classmates Tari Eason and Keegan Murray, for example, have not signed an extension.
Every other one of the 11 rookies with three years of experience that signed an extension (Brandon Clarke, Nassir Little, Onyeka Okongwu, Deni Avdija, Josh Green, Cole Anthony, Aaron Nesmith, Zeke Naji, Payton Pritchard, Cory Kispert, and Jaden Hardy) did it for $15.5 million or less per year. They only got signed because they took very team-friendly deals instead of opting to wait for restricted free agency. This might be the group Sochan finds himself in based solely on his past play and not his upside.
The Spurs might want to see more before committing
Some of the reasons for concern about a Sochan extension are not his fault. First, injuries. Sochan played under 60 games in two of his three seasons. Last year, he was sidelined early, just as he was having a strong start, and this summer, he couldn’t raise his stock by competing in EuroBasket. Second, he’s spent some of his time on the ball at point guard, and some of it as a center on offense, as the Spurs experimented, in part out of necessity. So what exactly is Sochan, other than a great defender with an edge to him and a high motor? That question matters.
The aspect that could cause hesitation, which is a purely Sochan issue, is his jumper. Sochan shot well on two-pointers last season for the first time in his career, but his free-throw shooting took a dive, and his three-point shooting stagnated. Despite taking fewer long shots per possession and getting wide-open looks, Sochan shot 30.8 percent from beyond the arc, exactly the same as he did in 2023/24. His fit with Wembanyama improved because the big man became a more effective outside threat, but Sochan didn’t. He still presents similar issues to Josh Hart, for example, in that opponents can hide their center on him.
The injury woes, the unsuccessful role changes, and the lingering questions over whether he can eventually become a passable shooter that prevents opponents from loading up in the paint are reasonable concerns that could give the Spurs pause on any extension talks. Even for a team-friendly amount.
Restricted free agency gives the Spurs all the leverage
Sochan undoubtedly has his strengths. The question is, should the Spurs even offer an extension when they can simply wait another year before making a decision? There will be more cap room available next offseason, but the Spurs could match any salary sheet Sochan signs. The only risk in restricted free agency is another team making an absurd offer, but the market price for his type doesn’t seem high. Derrick Jones Jr. makes $10 million a year, looking like a reasonable baseline. Matisse Thybulle makes $11.5 million. Santi Aldama, who had to wait until after his fourth year, agreed to slightly above the mid-level exception, a reasonable ceiling.
As we’ve seen above, early extensions are mostly about keeping stars happy and finding bargains. A Sochan deal doesn’t accomplish the former, and only makes sense if it results in the latter. Additionally, teams have been using their leverage in restricted free agency more recently. The Spurs could find some middle ground with Sochan, just like they did with Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell. But they don’t need to. He’ll likely be affordable next summer, and in the unlikely event that someone goes crazy with an offer sheet, they can keep him by matching it or let him go and focus on developing Carter Bryant.
Ideally, they’ll find some middle ground with a player that seems to bring a lot to the table that the numbers don’t always reflect, but no one could blame the front office for not being in a rush to potentially overpay Sochan when they are holding all the cards and could have some legitimate concerns about the charismatic forward’s future play and fit.
By Jeje Gomez, via Pounding The Rock