The Sacramento Kings have bolstered their frontcourt by signing free agent center Precious Achiuwa to a one-year veteran minimum contract, a move aimed at addressing their current struggles on the court. To make room for Achiuwa, the team has released second-year center Isaac Jones, opting for a more experienced player to enhance their rotation.
Achiuwa, now in his sixth season in the NBA, was originally drafted by the Miami Heat in 2020. However, it was during his three seasons with the Toronto Raptors that he showcased his best performance, averaging 8.9 points and 6.1 rebounds over 21.6 minutes across 153 games. His journey continued when he was traded to the New York Knicks in December 2023 as part of the deal involving OG Anunoby. After re-signing with the Knicks in the summer of 2024, he became a reliable bench player, contributing to the team’s playoff push by participating in 17 playoff games, with two starts.
This addition comes at a crucial time for the Kings, who are looking to turn around a disappointing start to the season, currently sitting at 2-5 after their latest loss to the Denver Nuggets. The team’s defensive performance has been particularly concerning, ranking as the fourth worst in the league with a defensive rating of 118.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. Furthermore, the Kings are dealing with the absence of second-year power forward Keegan Murray, who is still recovering from a UCL tear in his left thumb sustained during preseason. In his stead, veteran Russell Westbrook has been filling the power forward role.
With Achiuwa joining the ranks, the Kings aim to inject new energy into their lineup and improve their performance as they strive for momentum in the early stages of the season.