Knicks, Precious Achiuwa agree on one-year deal
Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa brings the ball up court against the Chicago Bulls in the second half of an NBA game at Madison Square Garden on April 14. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Knicks clarified their search for a backup center, agreeing to terms with Precious Achiuwa on a one-year, $6 million deal, bringing him back to shore up the second unit.
Achiuwa, who joined the Knicks in the midseason trade with the Toronto Raptors that brought OG Anunoby to New York, is not a true center — and he has insisted he is not a center. But he is a versatile offensive talent who has already proven his fit, as well as a player who can buy them minutes behind Mitchell Robinson.
The deal gives the Knicks 14 players under contract — plus a two-way deal for second-round pick Ariel Hukporti. And the salary allows the Knicks to remain below the second apron of the salary cap, still able to sign a player to the midlevel exception of $5.2 million.
Achiuwa appeared in 74 games last season, 49 with the Knicks, starting 18 of those. He averaged 7.6 points and 7.2 rebounds with the Knicks and upped the numbers to 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the 18 starts. He started two playoff games with the Knicks' roster depleted by injuries in the postseason.
He recorded 14 games of double-figure rebounds and helped secure the Knicks' Game 4 win over Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs with a block of a Joel Embiid three-point field goal attempt.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
