Knicks' key bench option faces uncertain future ahead of free agency

With the New York Knicks’ season ending in an Eastern Conference finals loss to the Pacers, the club will look to add more depth ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. However, they may have trouble convincing one of their top frontcourt reserves to return after a rollercoaster season.

The 2024-25 campaign was a mixed bag for Precious Achiuwa, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 25-year-old re-signed with the Knicks before the season after speculation he might leave, but he ended up in an inconsistent role for a significant portion of the year. 

There’s a good chance the Knicks could lose the big man in free agency this time around. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Achiuwa is expected to assess his value on the open market and ultimately find a situation where he can make a more meaningful impact. Still, Bondy notes that Achiuwa isn’t completely ruling out a return. 

“Going to take a little bit of time from my end to think about that stuff,” Achiuwa said. “But that’s something that’s important. So when that time comes, I have people who I pay money to handle that type of stuff, who have those type of conversations. So we’ll see how that goes.”

The Memphis product was barely utilized during New York’s postseason run, falling victim to former head coach Tom Thibodeau’s starter-heavy rotation. 

He also struggled to carve out consistent playing time in 57 regular-season appearances, averaging 20.5 minutes per game — his lowest average since his rookie season with Miami. 

Achiuwa could provide a contending team with a solid backup center next season, and he may be reluctant to stay put with Mitchell Robinson expected to back up Karl-Anthony Towns in New York.