The Knicks and Precious Achiuwa have reached a one-year agreement worth $6 million, Achuiwa’s agent, Raymond Brothers, told SNY on Tuesday.
Achiuwa agreed to waive his no-trade clause as part of the agreement, per SNY sources.
Achiuwa, 24, averaged 7.6 points on 52.5 percent from the field and 7.2 rebounds per game across 49 games (18 starts) for the Knicks last season. Achiuwa, of course, was dealt to the Knicks alongside OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30.
Achiuwa also gave the Knicks valuable minutes in the postseason.
With Achuiwa on board, the Knicks have 14 players under standard NBA contracts and one player on a two-way deal. In the regular season, teams can have as many as 15 players on standard NBA deals and three players on two-way contracts.
The Knicks have been exploring different ways to obtain a backup center following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure to Oklahoma City.
Achiuwa played the position at times for the Knicks last season. He also played power forward for New York.
For now, you can pencil Achiuwa and Jericho Sims in as the Knicks’ backup bigs behind Mitchell Robinson. The Knicks still have the tax-payer midlevel exception (two years, $10 million in total) to offer free agents, and they have the open roster spot.
New York had also been exploring potential trades for centers such as Walker Kessler and Atlanta’s Clint Capela.
Achiuwa had drawn interest from opposing teams, including some contenders. He had a standing offer from New York amid the interest from the other teams. Waiving the no-trade clause was a key factor in the deal. By returning on a one-year deal, Achiuwa had the right to reject any trade during the 2024-25 season. He waived that right and can be moved as soon as Jan. 15, 2025.
With Achiuwa on board, the Knicks are $7.6 million below the NBA’s second apron threshold, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. New York is hard-capped at the second apron for the 2024-25 season.
BRUNSON EVENTS IN NYC
Knicks fans will have a chance to attend events with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart over the next few weeks.
In early September, Brunson and Hart will have a live recording of their podcast, The Roommates Show, at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield. The show, co-hosted by Matt Hillman, will record live from Rumsey Playfield on Sept. 7, starting at 6 p.m. It will feature Jon Stewart, Mikal Bridges, Stephon Marbury and other guests.
“There is nothing like the outpouring of love and support that we get from our fans when we play in our home city. We have the greatest fans in the world and we want to further allow them into our world,” Brunson and Hart said in a statement.
In mid-August, Brunson and Hart will be part of a Knicks panel at Fanatics Fest NYC. The festival will take place at the Javits Center from Aug. 16-18. The Knicks, dubbed “Bing Bong: The Iconic New York Knicks,” will take place on Aug. 16. In addition to Hart and Brunson, Hall-of-Famer Walt Frazier, Spike Lee, and Ben Stiller will participate on the panel.
Donte DiVincenzo, Larry Johnson, Penny Hardaway, Carmelo Anthony and Jalen Rose are also scheduled to appear at the festival.
The panel will cover the past, present and future of Knicks basketball and its relationship with the city of New York.
