The Knicks have settled on an answer at the backup center — for now.
The Knicks and free agent center Precious Achiuwa agreed to a deal bringing the versatile big man back for another stint in New York.
Achiuwa was set to be a restricted free agent before the Knicks declined to extend him a qualifying offer, which made the former Toronto Raptors forward-center an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Achiuwa’s deal is for one year, $6 million, and he has waived the no-trade clause that comes standard with a one-year deal signed using a player’s bird rights, according to SNY.
The earliest the Knicks can trade Achiuwa is Dec. 15.
Addressing the gap at backup five was top priority as training camp encroached the two-month mark.
The Knicks, restricted by the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) from making a stronger offer to their own free agent, lost Isaiah Hartenstein, who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder for three years, $87 million.
His departure hurt the Knicks in more ways than one: not only were Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson considered one of the NBA’s top one-two punches at center, but Hartenstein was also an insurance policy against the oft-injured Robinson, who underwent two surgeries last season to repair recurring stress reactions in his left ankle.
Without Hartenstein, the Knicks were left with Jericho Sims and No. 58 overall pick Ariel Hukporti as backup options at the center.
Achiuwa is the latest move in an active offseason for the Knicks, whose acquisitions have vaulted them into the NBA championship conversation.
The Knicks re-signed OG Anunoby to the richest contract in franchise history (five years, $212.5 million), traded five first-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges, then re-signed Jalen Brunson at a historic discount in a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension.
Bridges (Oct. 1) and Julius Randle (Aug. 3) are also up for contract extensions this offseason.
Re-signing Achiuwa officially puts the Knicks over the $178.1 million first apron, which comes with the following roster-building ramifications, courtesy of the new wrinkles in the CBA:
- Under no circumstances can the Knicks take back more money than they send out in a trade this season
- The Knicks cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade if the player they are receiving keeps them above the first apron
- The Knicks cannot sign a player waived by his previous team if his salary was worth more than the non taxpayer’s mid-level exception ($12.8 million)
- The Knicks cannot use a trade exception that was created the previous season. The Knicks had access to two such trade exceptions: one worth $5.2 million from the RJ Barrett trade to the Toronto Raptors, another worth $3.8 million from the Malachi Flynn trade to the Detroit Pistons
And because the Knicks re-signed Achiuwa using his bird rights, they still have the taxpayer’s mid-level exception worth $5.2 million available to sign one or more free agents this season.
But retaining Achiuwa also gives the Knicks flexibility to strike another deal when all players who signed new contracts this offseason become trade-eligible on Dec. 15.
Previously, Miles McBride and his team-friendly $4.7 million salary was the sole trade chip for the Knicks in pursuit of a backup center. Once he becomes eligible, the Knicks can move Achiuwa for a player making as much as $6 million or create a package around Achiuwa, possibly McBride or Sims, and draft capital for a higher-impact player.
That, however, is later. The much-needed front court depth comes now.
The Knicks have signed the best center available in a barren free agency market, a player who can guard multiple positions, crash the glass, and finish at the rim for the occasional two points.
They have addressed the biggest need hovering over a team with deep playoff aspirations. The hope, of course, is that Robinson can stay healthy the entire season, but if he goes down (Robinson has appeared in just 31 games in two of the last four seasons), Achiuwa will have a chance to follow Hartenstein’s path.
A chance to prove he belongs and play himself into a longer-term deal in his hometown.
Maybe a chance to play himself into a seismic pay raise a la his former teammate.
But there’s also a chance, after waiving his no-trade clause, Achiuwa is another piece for a front office meticulously searching for the right combination of players to crack the NBA’s championship code.
With a realistic shot at the franchise’s first title in over 50 years, anything can happen, though Achiuwa can get comfortable, for now, with at least under mid-December to make a case to stay.