4:52 pm: The Kings have officially signed Achiuwa and waived Jones, according to a team press release.
9:17 am: The Kings have reached an agreement with free agent forward/center Precious Achiuwa on a one-year, minimum-salary contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. According to Charania, Sacramento is expected to waive second-year forward Isaac Jones in order to make room on the roster for Achiuwa.
NBA insider Jake Fischer first reported on Monday that the Kings were eyeing Achiuwa, with Brett Siegel of Clutch Points stating at the time that Jones would likely be the odd man out if the team made a roster move.
The Kings have been shorthanded in the frontcourt after losing Keegan Murray to a thumb injury last month. With their starting power forward sidelined, the Kings have had to use smaller lineups while also leaning on rookies Nique Clifford and Dylan Cardwell more than expected in the early going.
Achiuwa, 26, began his career with the Heat as the No. 20 overall pick in 2020. He was sent to the Raptors as part of the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade during the 2021 offseason and spent two-plus seasons in Toronto before being traded to the Knicks along with OG Anunoby in December 2023. Achiuwa was in New York for a season-and-a-half, then signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Heat this fall but didn’t make Miami’s regular season roster due to luxury tax concerns.
Achiuwa is a bit undersized for a center and isn’t a threat as an outside shooter, but he’s an athletic, high-energy player who rebounds well and is a versatile, switchable defender. In 57 games in 2024/25, he averaged 6.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 20.5 minutes per contest, with a .502/.278/.594 shooting line.
As for Jones, the former Washington State standout caught on with the Kings as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and appeared in 40 games off the bench for the team, earning a promotion from his two-way deal to a standard contract in March. While he exceeded expectations during his time in Sacramento, Jones played a very limited role, averaging 7.6 minutes per game last season and logging just 17 minutes in three contests so far in 2025/26, even with Murray sidelined.
There were some conflicting reports on Jones’ contract when the Kings exercised his ’25/26 team option in June, but ESPN’s Bobby Marks confirms (via Twitter) that the 25-year-old’s minimum salary was non-guaranteed. That means Sacramento will only be on the hook for a $191,043 dead-money cap hit if Jones is cut on Tuesday — for the purposes of evaluating whether the team finishes the season in luxury tax territory, he’ll count for $214,151 due to tax variance.
Assuming Achiuwa officially signs on Tuesday, a prorated minimum deal would pay him $2,453,285, with the Kings carrying a cap charge of $2,111,516. I would expect his contract to be non-guaranteed, though that hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Kings throwing a hail mary thinking this move will jump start their season. They should start with a rebuild instead.
It’s a minimum contract lol. They are just adding a big they need. Why the drama.
i see my stalker is back. Kings are not winning a chip. Other west teams are getting better like the Spurs which I told you would be a very good team. Yiou just hate how I am always right and you are always wrong.
Again the drama ….. it’s a bench player. And now we can’t respond. Go get back on the Kuminga Bandwagon. You might lose your spot.
Come on Knicker you just love to stock everyone just to argue about nothing. The 50 years of no championships made you a bitter old man.
Nothing is bashing Kings over signing a bench player. Precious is from the BX. I will always have his back.
Arc – you might be the only person on earth who see’s this move as an attempt to win a championship. You also might be the only person on earth that can’t see that the Kings committed to rebuilding a month ago.
IMO I don’t know what you’re expecting from the Kings. Who’s on the phone right now asking for their players? It’s the beginning of November man.
I see it only as a desperate attempt to quiet the fans. If I was GM of the Kings it would be time to dangle Sabonis in front of Memphis for JaMorant. He comes with baggage but if you make him the player to build around he will be happy. Offer DeRozan around to get a 1st round pick and a young player.
Agree, they are just filling a need smh
He’s a 6’8″ PF which is a position of need for the Kings, and has value at the vet min.
They’re the Kings, they do things no other team would do (like trading for LaVine and DeRozan). Ofc he’s not going to somehow save their season.
Another rebuild ?? They haven’t stopped rebuilding since 1985 !! When will it Stop ?? Ever ?? How about STOP Blaming the Coach / Players for an Inept Owner / GM !! The coach can ONLY work with what is given to him !!
Bulls whiff again.
Absolutely unbelieveable the Kings are cutting Jones over McDermott or Saric
jones money was not guaranteed is why they cut him instead those other 2.
Yes, but Jones could have value in the future, might be worth the extra 2M they’d have to pay out to McD. Doug hasn’t even played 1 minute this year, and almost 10 games in. Glad they are ‘saving’ all this money for him to ride the bench and practice, lol.
At almost 34, we all know this is McDermott is ever rgoing to be, a one trick pony 3pt shooter. Would rather keep the younger big, with more potential upside, even if they saved a small amount of money by keeping Doug.
Precious is an old school 4. Solid defender and rebounder. Kings need a big for their bench. He can provide that. Go get em Precious …..
Kings need another Big for the COURT rather than the bench.
Solid defender and rebounder for the bench?
We’ll see what he brings to the BENCH.
The Kings technical have one NBA title
Someone sign Jones
Maybe he’ll sign back with Stockton, anyone know if that’s possible?