Spurs Notes: Sochan, Barnes, Collins, Wembanyama

Jeremy Sochan is happy that last season’s point guard experiment is over, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. With limited choices to handle the lead guard spot last fall, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich assigned those duties to Sochan, even though the 6’8″ power forward had never tried the position before.

“Playing my normal position is going to be great,” Sochan said at media day. “I’m not going to be thinking as much. It’s going to come more natural.”

The unexpected change not only bogged down the Spurs’ offense, it took some of the fun out of the game for Sochan, who was coming off an appearance on the All-Rookie team. He expressed frustration with the change and often looked lost on the court. He was moved back to power forward in December, but Orsborn states that the psychological damage from being out of position lingered throughout the season.

San Antonio signed Chris Paul during the summer, so there’s no chance that Sochan will be running the offense again. Orsborn observed that he seemed much more relaxed as he showed up at media day with a bright pink hairstyle.

“You don’t want a player like that to be in their own head too much,” teammate Tre Jones said. “It kind of takes them out of their game and their natural abilities.”

There’s more on the Spurs:

• Popovich has been trying to acquire Harrison Barnes ever since they were together on Team USA in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Popovich finally got his chance this summer as part of the three-team trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento. “He’s a leader, a great teammate,” Popovich said. “He just goes on to the next play, whether it was a turnover or he makes a three. He’s not impressed or depressed. He just goes out and plays.”
• Zach Collins tore the labrum in his right shoulder during the final game of last season, but he was ready for the first day of training camp, Orsborn states in a separate story. “It was perfect timing because I had such a long summer to get right,” Collins said. “The shoulder has felt great for a while now. The worst part about being injured is missing games, sitting on the sidelines and not being out there with the guys. Luckily, none of that is going to happen.”
• Victor Wembanyama reported to camp five pounds heavier and a little more muscular than he was when last season ended, Orsborn adds in another piece. Wembanyama had an active offseason, working out for two months in San Antonio before joining the French Olympic team.“Weight will come with strength,” he said. “It’s just a result of the good work we have done all summer. I am really satisfied with the summer we just had here.”
• Julian Champagnie and Malaki Branham appear to be the most likely candidates to take Devin Vassell‘s spot in the starting lineup while he recovers from foot surgery, according to Orsborn. Champagnie started 59 games last season, while Branham made 29 starts.