Kings Reach Deal to Add Precious Achiuwa
kings-reach-deal-to-add-precious-achiuwa
The Sacramento Kings have struck an agreement with free-agent forward/center Precious Achiuwa, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The club is expected to waive second-year forward Isaac Jones to clear a roster spot for the incoming big man.
The signing is anticipated to become official on Tuesday. Interest in Achiuwa was first reported Monday by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, while Brett Siegel of Clutch Points indicated at the time that Jones would likely be released if a move materialized.
Sacramento has been short on frontcourt depth since starting power forward Keegan Murray suffered a thumb injury last month. In Murray’s absence, head coach Mike Brown has leaned on smaller lineups and given rookies Nique Clifford and Dylan Cardwell larger roles than planned.
Achiuwa, 26, entered the league as the No. 20 pick in the 2020 draft with Miami. He was dealt to Toronto in the 2021 Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade and spent more than two seasons with the Raptors before being sent to New York alongside OG Anunoby in December 2023. After a season-and-a-half with the Knicks, he returned to the Heat on a non-guaranteed deal this fall but was released before opening night because of luxury-tax considerations.
The 6-foot-8 big man averaged 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 20.5 minutes across 57 games in 2024-25, shooting .502 from the field, .278 from three and .594 at the foul line. Known more for energy, rebounding and defensive versatility than outside shooting, he is expected to bolster Sacramento’s rotation at both frontcourt spots.
A prorated veteran-minimum contract would pay Achiuwa $2,453,285 this season and carry a cap charge of $2,111,516. The deal is expected to be non-guaranteed, though that detail has not been confirmed.
Jones, 25, joined the Kings as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and appeared in 40 games off the bench, earning a standard contract in March. His 2025-26 salary is non-guaranteed, so waiving him will cost Sacramento $191,043 in dead money. For luxury-tax calculations, that amount will count as $214,151.
Source: Hoops Rumors
