The New York Knicks got some much-needed reinforcement in their frontcourt, as they brought back a familiar face to a team-friendly deal. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the club signed Precious Achiuwa to a one-year, $6 million contract.
Precious Achiuwa became a free agent when New York didn’t tender him his $6.3 million qualifying offer. The team wound up re-signing him for slightly less, and Achiuwa also waived his Bird veto.
With him on board, New York has 14 players under standard NBA contracts and one on a two-way deal while staying below the second tax apron.
The 24-year-old center joined the New York Knicks last season, as he arrived via the blockbuster OG Anunoby trade. Precious Achiuwa played 49 regular season games (18 starts), averaging 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game.
New York Knicks’ current frontcourt
Because Isaiah Hartenstein left the Big Apple to join the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason, the New York Knicks have been finding a way to get a capable backup center, and Precious Achiuwa fits the bill.
For now, Achiuwa and Jericho Sims are listed as the team’s backup centers behind Mitchell Robinson, while Julius Randle is their other notable big man.
The team has also explored potential trades for centers this summer such as Clint Capela, Walker Kessler, and Nikola Vucevic.
New York still has a taxpayer mid-level exception of roughly $5.2 million in annual salary, acquired from the Mikal Bridges trade, that they can use to add another player to their current roster.
