Already this summer, the OKC Thunder have proverbially stuck it to the New York Knicks organization by stealing away prized free agent big, Isaiah Hartenstein, via a three-year, $87 million contract.
Now, more than two weeks into the illustrious offseason festivities, they may want to consider double-dipping by swiping another one of their available frontcourt commodities away in Precious Achiuwa.
Thunder should pursue Knicks big Precious Achiuwa in free agency
As of this writing, the 24-year-old has yet to be re-signed by the organization, though reports are he and the Knicks are "in touch" with one another as the two sides leave open the possibility of a reunion.
Until pen and paper meet on a new contract agreement, the big man still remains available for the taking on the open market, and the Thunder must strongly consider pursuing his services.
Precious Achiuwa comes off the bench and LOCKS DOWN on this possession 🔒
— NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2024
NYK-PHI on TNT pic.twitter.com/ampM8forZh
Though far from a star-caliber player, throughout his four-year professional career, the former first-round pick has established himself as a quality role player who can defend both the four and five, gobble up boards at a highly reliable rate, and is more than willing to get scrappy and do the dirty work on the hardwood all in the name of winning.
Spending time with both the Toronto Raptors and Knickerbockers in 2023-24, Achiuwa proved a solid contributor for each organization and finished off the season boasting sound averages of 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and just shy of a block on 50.1 percent shooting from the floor.
While in New York, due to a slew of injuries that left guys like Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby sidelined, Achiuwa was sporadically called upon to play in big roles and moments, and, in turn, he managed to shine quite bright.
The big wound up seeing 18 starts with the team where he averaged 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game on 52.6 percent shooting, and, while back in a reserve role under the bright lights of the postseason, he went on to drop 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 48.8 percent shooting in just 20.5 minutes a night while playing some impressive defense against the likes of Joel Embiid and Myles Turner along the way.
Though the Thunder already seem to have their frontcourt rotation set with their pair of 7-footers in Chet Holmgren and, now, Isaiah Hartenstein, considering the team finished 27 in rebounds per game and 29 in offensive boards, it wouldn't hurt for them to add someone who can play both the four and five and who sports an average of 14.2 boards per 100 possessions for their career.
Not to mention, it never hurts to have depth waiting in the reserves.
With roughly $8 million in spending power remaining, the Thunder could certainly shell out an offer that could prove to be worthwhile for Achiuwa -- considering he earned just $4.4 million last season, even the $8.6 non-taxpayer MLE would be a significant pay-bump for him.
Already strapped with ample firepower at both the guard and wing positions, pursuing a player who can serve as a reliable backup tweener big down low might be the best course of action for Oklahoma City at this point in the offseason, and stealing away yet another Knicks frontcourt talent could prove to be both comical and strategic all at the same time.