San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Popovich doubts in-season trade likely
With Friday marking the unofficial start of the NBA’s trade season, coach Gregg Popovich was asked if the Western Conference basement-dwelling Spurs would be in the market for deals.
“No, I doubt it,” he said before the Spurs downed the Los Angeles Lakers 129-115 to snap a franchise-record 18-game losing streak.
“Why would we do that? ... Get a vet or two and go win a championship this year? I’m going to go think about that,” Popovich added.
Considering the Spurs are off to the worst start in franchise history with a 4-20 record, the sarcasm wasn’t surprising.
A follow-up question about Tre Jones being the only true point guard on the roster yielded a more serious reply from the coach, who didn’t rule out the Spurs looking for a player that could fit into their “longterm” plans.
“Our focus is not immediate other than individual development and team concepts,” Popovich said. “But if there’s a trade that would make sense both now and for long-term, of course, we look at it. (General manager) Brian Wright and his guys are probably doing that already.”
Friday marked the date that players who agreed to free-agent deals in the offseason were eligible to be traded. The league’s trade deadline is 2 p.m. Feb. 8.
Some league observers have speculated the Spurs would be willing to part ways with Keldon Johnson, but Popovich praised the fifth-year forward for his efforts to make good on his training camp vow to improve defensively.
“He’s definitely trying to concentrate on that end of the floor and become somebody we can count on night after night to guard one of the better players on the other team,” Popovich said. “He’s taken it seriously. That’s a good thing.”
Johnson is in the first year of a four-year, $74 million salarycap-friendly contract that decreases in value, going from $20 million this season to $19 million in 2024-25 and $17.5 million in both 2025-26 and 2026-27.
Sochan praised for defense against James
Jeremy Sochan’s pestering defense against Lakers superstar LeBron James in Friday’s win drew praise from his teammates and Popovich.
After sitting out Wednesday’s win over the Spurs due to a calf injury, James finished with 23 points and 14 assists, but Sochan made him work for it. The four-time league MVP was only 7 of 17 from the field and was 2 of 6 from 3-point range.
In his 5 minutes and 28 seconds directly defending James, Sochan held the NBA’s career scoring leader to 0-for-5 shooting from the floor and forced two turnovers while giving up just one assist and only one foul, according to statistics provided by the league.
“He gave everything he could,” Popovich said. “He did a good job guarding LeBron. He
made him think about it. Made him hesitate once in a while. You’re not going to stop the guy. He’s spectacular. But Jeremy took on the challenge.”
Sochan said he had a simple approach to defending James.
“Just be me. Just play defense,” he said.
The game marked Sochan’s third in a row at forward after Popovich relieved him of the point guard duties he held for most of the season.
“I guess you can say it’s a little easier, maybe not as much energy (expended),” he said of no longer having to serve as floor general.
Free to concentrate more on defense, Sochan led the Spurs’ defensive effort. In 27 minutes, he also had 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
“Down the stretch, Jeremy played huge,” Devin Vassell said. “He was fighting through screens and really just making it tough, making (James) pass the ball and making other people try and score. I think he passed it to C-Wood (Chistian Wood) one time and passed it to somebody else for a 3, and those are big stops.”
Ranked either at the bottom of the league or near the bottom in defensive rating all season, the Spurs have shown some defensive improvement lately, with Sochan helping to lead the way.
It helped Friday that the Lakers were without three injured starters: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell and Cam Reddish.
“Our defense sometimes was the best part of the game, besides Devin’s 36 points,” said Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. “I was getting hyped seeing us forcing them to take bad shots and causing turnovers and stuff. It was a very big part of the game, and Jeremy put some crazy pressure on their best players and had a big, key role in our rotations.”
Graham dusts off rust to get back on court
With backup point guard Jones a late scratch due to an illness, Devonte’ Graham collected his first meaningful minutes of the season.
In just his fourth game of the season and after six straight games without leaving the bench, the fifth-year veteran was scoreless in 10 minutes, eight of which came in the second quarter, and three assists.
“He filled in nicely,” Popovich said.
Vassell, who scored a careerbest 36 points, was more effusive in his praise.
“He’s a pro, a vet,” Vassell said. “He understands his role, that there’s ups and downs. It’s huge for him to step up.”