REPORT: Precious Achiuwa unlikely to return to Knicks

After a season and a half in New York, the Bronx native is likely taking his talents elsewhere.

While the Knicks sort out their increasingly complicated coaching situation, they’re just over three weeks away from the official beginning of free agency, where they will look to sort out the depth issues that persisted throughout the 2024-25 season.

While the status of many of the pending free agents remains uncertain, our first potential tea leaf comes from Steve Popper of Newsday.

According to Popper, Precious Achiuwa, the Bronx native acquired alongside OG Anunoby (and Evil Donte) in the December 2023 blockbuster that sent RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley north of the border, is likely on his way out.

“(Handling pending free agents) will be an interesting decision for the front office. Achiuwa seemed to be most likely to be gone among players who were contributors this season, not signing back with the Knicks last summer until all other options were exhausted. But there was a dissatisfaction with playing time under Thibodeau — and the coaching staff having equal dissatisfaction about the defense and consistency provided by Achiuwa.

“Among the veterans who were part of the rotation, (Landry) Shamet probably has the best chance to come back. (Ariel) Hukporti showed enough as a rookie to merit a return, but the others, including (PJ) Tucker, figure to be long shots to return as the team hopes to clear out room under the second apron to sign someone who can contribute now.” — Newsday’s Steve Popper

As stated by Popper, Achiuwa only returned to the Knicks last offseason after “all options were exhausted.” Achiuwa was not offered a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent, but re-signed on July 30 on a one-year deal using Bird rights. Achiuwa reportedly was dissatisfied with playing time this past season (a lot of that in the last few days, huh), while the coaching staff soured on him as well.

Achiuwa started the season on the shelf due to a preseason ankle injury, making his season debut on December 5. In 57 games (10 starts), he averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds on 50.2% from the field and 27.8% from three.

The winger went from the team’s backup center to on the periphery of the rotation after the emergence of rookie Ariel Hukporti and the return of Mitchell Robinson midseason. That resulted in Achiuwa playing in just eight of the Knicks’ 18 playoff games, playing a grand total of 34 minutes of situational and garbage time action.

Achiuwa’s defining game as a Knick, however, came in a playoff game. In the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the first round series against the 76ers last season, Achiuwa was forced into the perilous position of guarding Joel Embiid with Isaiah Hartenstein in foul trouble and Robinson out with a re-aggravated ankle injury. Achiuwa more than held his own, locking down the 2023 NBA MVP.

Achiuwa can be sent out in a sign-and-trade, but in very specific scenarios. A first-apron team, which the Knicks will likely be, cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade, but can add Achiuwa as a piece to match salaries, as seen with Shake Milton in the Mikal Bridges trade last June.

With his likely departure, Hukporti appears to be in line for his “situational big” role and will look to push for minutes right away, especially if the new coach decides to roll with Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the same lineup more often.