NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
The Knicks announced they re-signed big man Precious Achiuwa this week, rounding out an active offseason and bolstered rotation set to compete.
After a blockbuster trade for Mikal Bridges, infusion of prospects via the draft, and long-term deals agreed to with OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and head coach Tom Thibodeau, New York’s backup center position was the lone open question mark after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.
It took them some months before they finally agreed on terms with Achiuwa, but it’s unclear if that was due to them shopping around for trades or the big man testing the market.
Ultimately, they chose to re-up Achiuwa – who initially dawned the blue-and-orange as part of the Anunoby trade – on a one-year, $6 million deal, setting him up as the likely second-string center. Fourth-year man Jericho Sims will try to make his case in training camp and the preseason, but assuming there’s no big leap, that makes Achiuwa their man.
Some fans may be understandably underwhelmed at the prospect. They’ve been spoiled with two starting-caliber defensive stalwarts in Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson sharing the five spot for two seasons.
But Achiuwa is no pushover, proving himself in some of the biggest moments of last season’s run at this very same position. He may be a bit smaller than your average center at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, but he more than makes up for it on the glass and with his defensive versatility.
The Knicks played Achiuwa at both frontcourt positions, often moving him around depending on who they had healthy. But while his limited offense was a drag on his minutes at the four, his rim-running and interior hustle at the center spot made for his best minutes.
It took Achiuwa a few games to find his footing, but he slowly picked up his role on both ends, displaying a strong defensive IQ matched with a high-effort approach Thibodeau requires from his players. He started seeing 20 minutes a night when Hartenstein missed some time, putting up three double-digit rebound games out of a span of four off the bench before being inserted into the starting five following injuries to Julius…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-knicks-precious-achiuwa-dependable-140001556.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-08-03 14:00:01
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
