Blazers' Jeremy Sochan Cut Exposes Risky Bet on Forward Room

The Portland Trail Blazers have four established guards competing for minutes, an All-Star forward, one of the league's better wing defenders and a rotation that looks awfully thin behind them.

So, naturally, they decided to waive another forward.

Portland released Jeremy Sochan on Saturday, ending the former No. 9 overall pick's stint after four preseason appearances. The move leaves the Blazers with 14 players on standard contracts and an open roster spot.

Sochan wasn't guaranteed to crack Micah Nori's rotation. His departure, however, raises questions about how much confidence Portland's front office has in its remaining forwards.

General manager Joe Cronin traded Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis in June for Ja Morant, adding another ball-dominant guard to a backcourt featuring Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.

Portland gained another offensive weapon while surrendering two players capable of handling minutes at forward.

Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara are established building blocks. Avdija is coming off an All-Star campaign, while Camara's defensive versatility makes him essential to Portland's rotation.

Nori shouldn't have much trouble finding minutes for either.

The options behind them … well, that's where things become less certain.

Sidy Cissoko provides defensive energy, Vít Krejčí offers perimeter shooting and Micah Potter brings additional frontcourt size. All three have something to offer, though none provides the same combination of skills as Portland's starters.

Sochan would've given Nori another option.

The 23-year-old averaged six points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes across four preseason appearances, shooting 10-of-16 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

That's a respectable audition for someone fighting to make the roster.

Of course, Sochan's career 28.6% three-point percentage raises legitimate concerns about his fit. Nori emphasized improving Portland's shooting during his introductory news conference, and spacing becomes particularly important with Morant attacking the basket.

Five preseason attempts weren't going to erase Sochan's shooting history.

But his non-guaranteed contract offered Portland another chance to evaluate a young defender capable of handling multiple positions.

Cronin decided against it.

Nori can use Avdija at either forward position, lean on Camara and Cissoko for difficult defensive matchups or experiment with smaller lineups to accommodate his crowded backcourt.

Each approach comes with compromises — whether that's sacrificing size, shooting or defensive versatility.

Shaedon Sharpe's knee injury has already removed another wing-sized player from the early-season picture. An extended absence involving Avdija or Camara would put even more pressure on Portland's remaining options.

The Blazers don't need Sochan to survive those situations. They do, however, need enough playable forwards to prevent one injury from forcing Nori into lineups he'd otherwise prefer to avoid.

There's value in keeping a roster spot available, and Sochan's offensive limitations provide a reasonable explanation for his release. The front office may also believe Cissoko and Krejčí have earned greater opportunities.

But Cronin has assembled a roster with plenty of backcourt talent and far less certainty at forward. Nori now has to determine how much he can ask of Avdija, Camara and the players behind them.

Sochan might not have made much of a difference. Portland's front office certainly seems comfortable finding out.

Cronin has left himself an open roster spot and Nori with one fewer option at forward. Whether that flexibility proves worthwhile will depend on how much Portland needs the depth it decided to sacrifice.