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On Tuesday, July 30, the New York Knicks revealed that they had re-signed Precious Achiuwa, their backup big man.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Achiuwa’s one-year contract is valued at $6 million. Remarkably, according to numerous reports, the 6-foot-8 Achiuwa renounced his no-trade clause. Given that his deal makes him a trade piece for the Knicks come February’s trade deadline, that caused some people to take notice. By December 15, he will be eligible for trade, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
A player in the $11–$12 million range might be returned if the Knicks combine Achiuwa’s salary with that of Miles McBride ($4.7 million) or anyone they sign with their $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception.
Mo Wagner of the Orlando Magic ($11 million), Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers ($11.7 million), Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers ($12.4 million), and Steven Adams of the Houston Rockets ($12.6 million) are veteran centers in that wage bracket.
Valuable Add-On
After joining the Knicks as a throw-in in the December trade for OG Anunoby, Achiuwa is back with the team. However, Achiuwa shown his versatility, particularly after the Knicks lost forward Julius Randle—a three-time All-Star—due to a shoulder injury in late January.
The 24-year-old Achiuwa averaged 7.6 points on 52.5% field goal shooting, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.2 minutes in 49 games, including 18 starts. The four-year veteran scored 5.2 points on 48.8% field goal shooting, pulled down 4.2 rebounds, and blocked 1.3 shots in 20.5 minutes during the Knicks’ postseason run.
Achiuwa, a native of Nigeria who attended Bronx high school and played basketball, re-joins the Knicks frontcourt that was without Isaiah Hartenstein.
Achiuwa, Jericho Sims, and rookie Ariel Hukporti—who is on a two-way contract—are anticipated to alternate as Mitchell Robinson’s backup center.
According to ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks, the Knicks are $7.6 million under the dreaded second apron and still have two unfilled roster spots.
NBA Scout Says Knicks’ Offseason Was the Worst
An Eastern Conference scout informed ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, prior to Achiuwa’s re-signing, that the Knicks had the worst offseason in the league following the trading of Mikal Bridges for five first-round selections, the loss of Hartenstein, and the $212.5 million, five-year contract they awarded injury-prone Anunoby.
The scout informed Bontemps, “I don’t think they’ll be better this year.”
Anunoby has missed three seasons’ worth of games.
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However, because he hasn’t missed a game in the previous four seasons, Bridges is known as the league’s ironman. He is not an All-Star, though, and he just had a poor season in Brooklyn.
In exchange for Bridges, who is entering his first full season with the Nets after joining them in the Kevin Durant trade, New York provided up four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, and 2031), a protected 2025 first-round pick (via Milwaukee Bucks), an unprotected 2028 pick swap, and a 2025 second-round pick. Bridges returned from a disappointing year in Brooklyn.
In 82 games, Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 37.2% from three-point range and 43.6% from the field.
Due to his early Bird Rights, the Knicks were unable to match the Oklahoma City Thunder’s three-year, $87 million contract, therefore Hartenstein exited this offseason.
Shaq Is Not Convinced by Villanova Knicks’ Buzz
The Knicks front staff feels that the Bridges deal and Anunoby’s re-signing have brought them closer to a title, but four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” analysis believes otherwise.
“You’re aware of what it is? The city of New York is built on hype. On July 27, O’Neal stated on “The Big Podcast” that “that controls the hype.” They are able to excite everyone else. Though not [expletive], they have achieved ‘Oohh, New York, New York.’ [Brunson] is able to play now. I was mistaken about him. He is very remarkable. However, they are far from being champions. They will win some games and accomplish this, but I will be more impressed by how many championships you won in the conclusion of your career.
For the first time since 2013, the Knicks finished the previous season as the second seed in the East and won 50 games. However, they were defeated in seven games by the Indiana Pacers in the second round.
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