The San Antonio Spurs’ infamous 2022 NBA Draft class experienced a collective nightmare over the weekend, as Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, and Blake Wesley—all former first-round selections—were simultaneously waived by their respective teams in a brutal wave of final roster cuts ahead of the 2026-27 season.
San Antonio originally invested massive draft capital in the trio, selecting Sochan 9th overall, Branham at 20th, and Wesley at 25th.
However, after failing to establish permanent roots in Texas, all three players attempted to resurrect their careers elsewhere during training camp:
- Jeremy Sochan: Cut by the Portland Trail Blazers after failing to secure a roster spot on a non-guaranteed training camp deal.
- Malaki Branham: Waived from an Exhibit 10 contract by the Orlando Magic despite former Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney giving him a chance.
- Blake Wesley: Released off an Exhibit 10 deal by the Los Angeles Clippers following backcourt competition.
The triple-waiver serves as a stark, definitive confirmation of a major draft bust for San Antonio’s front office—though one that ultimately proved to be a blessing in disguise.
The Bitter-Sweet Arc of Jeremy Sochan
Sochan’s career trajectory remains the most bizarre of the three. After being waived by San Antonio in February, the former Baylor Bear caught on with the New York Knicks as a depth piece.
Four months later, Sochan found himself holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy as an NBA Champion—a championship ring the Spurs had spent years building toward—despite seeing minimal postseason action.
Now, after being released by Portland without a G League affiliate fall-back option, the 23-year-old defensive specialist enters unrestricted free agency facing an uncertain NBA future.
While Sochan brought high-intensity perimeter defense and rebounding, his lack of offensive floor-spacing made it impossible for teams to justify a roster spot in an era dominated by multi-dimensional wings.
Why the 2022 Draft Flop Saved San Antonio
While failing on three first-round picks in a single draft would collapse most franchises, the disaster directly enabled San Antonio’s current championship timeline.
By fielding a struggling, development-heavy roster in 2022-23, the Spurs fell directly into position to win the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery and select generational megastar Victor Wembanyama.
Furthermore, San Antonio’s current roster construction has completely outgrown the need for the trio:
- Wing Upgrades: Julian Champagnie, Carter Bryant, Harrison Barnes, and newly acquired veteran Tobias Harris provide far superior perimeter shooting and offensive versatility over Sochan.
- Guard Depth: With San Antonio boasting three elite, starter-caliber point guards alongside reliable reserves Jordan McLaughlin and Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the secondary playmaking once asked of Wesley and Branham is no longer required.
While Branham and Wesley may land with G League affiliates in Orlando and Los Angeles, San Antonio turns the page on its 2022 draft mistakes, fully equipped with a contender-ready roster built around Wembanyama’s historic rise.
