To elevate the squad, the front staff of the New York Knicks has been quite active over the offseason. In light of this, there will be some roster adjustments, and a talented center won’t be playing for the squad in the upcoming campaign.
As Fred Katz of The Athletic first reported, Precious Achiuwa will become an unrestricted free agency because the New York Knicks did not issue a qualifying offer to him before Saturday’s deadline. Achiuwa received a $6.3 million qualifying offer from New York, and although the team has allegedly not ruled out signing him again, it chose not to risk its salary-cap position by offering him the chance to sign a one-year contract instead.
The New York Knicks did not extend a qualifying offer to Precious Achiuwa before Saturday’s deadline, as The Athletic’s Fred Katz first reported, so the big man will become an unrestricted free agent. Achiuwa’s qualifying offer was worth $6.3 million, and while New York has reportedly not ruled out re-signing him, it decided not to jeopardize its salary-cap situation by giving him the option to sign a one-year deal for that amount simply.
The Knicks’ center rotation is under scrutiny as they go into free agency following their sensational trade for Mikal Bridges. Is it possible for them to re-sign unrestricted free agents? Isaiah Hartshorne? Would a Mitchell Robinson trade be assured by Hartenstein’s return? Will they appoint a replacement if one departs? Is Achiuwa still that substitute? It’s unknown how this will all work out, and it’s still unclear how the Bridges trade will turn out in the end.
The Knicks may be able to expand the deal because it won’t become official until after the free-agency moratorium. The front office would be well advised to do so, as the current construction will drastically restrict the amount of money it can spend this season.
Who the Knicks might be seeking in a future trade is unclear. After signing Mikal Bridges, the team might believe that their roster is already strong enough. In any case, it should be intriguing to follow this team going ahead.
Having said that, expect the Knicks to be competitive in the offseason. They stand a genuine chance to develop into a formidable team and challenge the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. New York has a good chance to make a deep run in the playoffs next year if all goes as planned.
