{"id":165655,"date":"2025-11-05T13:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T18:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=165655"},"modified":"2025-11-05T13:00:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T18:00:49","slug":"what-does-precious-achiuwa-bring-to-kings-and-how-does-he-fit-in-doug-christies-rotation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/11\/05\/what-does-precious-achiuwa-bring-to-kings-and-how-does-he-fit-in-doug-christies-rotation\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Precious Achiuwa Bring To Kings and How Does He Fit In Doug Christie’s Rotation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After news broke earlier today that an agreement was in place, the Sacramento Kings officially signed free agent<\/a> Precious Achiuwa<\/a> this afternoon. Achiuwa’s deal is for the veteran’s minimum ($2.29 million), according to ESPN’s Shams Charania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What Does Precious Achiuwa Bring To Kings and How Does He Fit In Doug Christie’s Rotation?<\/h2>\n

Achiuwa is looking to revive his NBA career after being surprisingly released by Miami during training camp. The six-year veteran, who spent last season with New York, signed a nonguaranteed deal with the Heat late in the summer after not finding a better deal. He averaged 4.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 12 minutes of action, though he was very inefficient, compiling 1.1 points per shot.<\/p>\n

Achiuwa is a high-energy big man who can play either the four or five. The 6-8 athletic forward is an outstanding rebounder and versatile defender.<\/p>\n

While limited offensively, Achiuwa plays hard and runs the floor well. He makes his biggest offensive impact as a rim-rounder, offensive rebounder, and cutter. Defensively, Achiuwa is a physical low-post defender capable of switching to wing due to length and quickness. Shooting and turnovers are his biggest weaknesses.<\/p>\n

Achiuwa averages 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds (1.9 offensive), and 1.0 assists for his career. The 26-year-old also has compiled 31 double-doubles and a shooting slash line of 48.4\/30.4\/60.6. In addition to playing one-plus seasons in New York, he spent two-plus seasons with Toronto after starting his career in Miami.<\/p>\n

To make room for Achiuwa, Sacramento waived Isaac Jones.<\/a> Jones was seen as a developmental player who had seen limited action in 40 career games.\u00a0 The undrafted 6-8 forward totalled 17 minutes of playing time this season, including one start, over the last three contests. He averaged 1.0 points and 0.7 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field.<\/p>\n

Jones’ 2025-26 salary ($1.9 million) was fully guaranteed, so the Kings still owe him all the money and take a dead cap hit of that amount. As a result of the two roster moves, the Kings are $1 million below the luxury tax threshold.<\/p>\n

Sacramento’s First Two Weeks<\/h3>\n

Things started rough for Sacramento (2-5), which lost Keegan Murray<\/a> to a thumb injury midway through the preseason, and the NBA schedule makers didn’t do them any favors.\u00a0 The Kings, who have played five of their first seven contests away from home, finished 1-3 in their recent four-game road trip with a 130-124 loss to Denver.<\/p>\n

After showing some improvement offensively following Doug Christie<\/a>‘s takeover for Mike Brown after Christmas, Sacramento has struggled to put the ball in the basket and maintain efficiency. However, their biggest issue remains on the defensive end, as the Kings were outscored 263-258 in their two recent contests against Denver and Milwaukee.\u00a0 They have allowed 120 points in five of their seven outings this season.<\/p>\n

Sacramento ranks 17th in the league with 116.3 points a game. The Kings are also 19th in offensive efficiency, despite being one of the top shooting teams at 48.7% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range, though they rank in the bottom third of the league in makes and attempts. While they don’t turn the ball over much, offensive rebounding and rebounding in general have been huge problems for them.<\/p>\n

Zach LaVine<\/a> leads the way for the Kings with 27 points a game, and DeMar DeRozan<\/a> tosses in 20 points a contest. Malik Monk<\/a> adds 15.6 points and 2.6 threes on 54.7% shooting from the field and 52% from the 3-point line.<\/p>\n

LaVine, DeRozan, and Monk have all been very efficient. But Dennis Schroder<\/a> (14.9 points) and Domantas Saboni<\/a>s ( 14.5 points) have struggled, especially from behind the arc.<\/p>\n

What Will Achiuwa’s Role Be?<\/h3>\n

Sacramento has the fourth-worst defense in the NBA in terms of scoring (121.1 points) and efficiency. The Kings are allowing opponents to shoot 50.1% from the field, though they have done a decent job guarding the 3-point line. They don’t foul and are an average defensive rebounding team, but below average in creating turnovers.<\/p>\n

Christie has used five different starting lineups this year as he has tried to figure out his fifth starter with Murray sidelined. Russell Westbrook<\/a> has been the most used fifth starter, doing so three times.\u00a0 Keon Ellis<\/a>, Drew Eubanks<\/a>, Nique Clifford,<\/a> Dylan Caldwell<\/a>, and Jones have all started once.<\/p>\n

LaVine, DeRozan, Schroder, and Sabonis are entrenched as Kings’ starters. Until Murray returns, expect Christie to continue running Westbrook or Clifford, who returned from a hamstring injury a few days ago, with the first unit.<\/p>\n

Malik Monk<\/a> or Westbrook, when not starting, serve as the Kings’ sixth man. Ellis and Clifford are also a huge part of Christie’s second unit. Now,\u00a0 here is the tricky part. DeRozan, LaVine, Schroder, and Sabonis are logging 33-plus minutes a game.<\/p>\n

Eubanks gives the Kings a shot-blocking presence, though he is equally as inept as Achiuwa is offensively. Achiuwa is also the better rebounder. While it makes sense for Christie to expand the rotation now that Achiuwa is in the picture, he may choose which big man he goes with depending on the matchup. So, for the time being, Achiuwa looks to be the Kings’ No. 3 or No. 4 big.<\/p>\n

Dylan Caldwell<\/a>, Devin Carter<\/a>, Dario Saric<\/a>, and Maxime Raynaud<\/a> appear to be relegated to emergency fill-ins and injury replacements.<\/p>\n

Kings Injury Report<\/h3>\n

Achiuwa may even see a bigger role in his Sacramento against Golden State tonight as Sabonis (ribcage\/contusion) is questionable. LaVine (low-back soreness) is also doubtful for tonight.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Caldwell and the Kings’ other two-way players, Isaiah Stevens<\/a> and Daequon Plowden,<\/a> are with the G-League Stockton Kings. It is possible that if Sabonis is ruled out, Caldwell will be active.<\/p>\n

Keegan Murray (Left thumb, UCL injury): Out. He may be reevaluated early next week, or it could be two more weeks (Nov. 25). Must wait until the reevaluation is done and what is said, before making a concrete prediction of his return.<\/p>\n

Domantas Sabonis (ribs): His status won’t likely be made known against the Warriors until close to tipoff. If he does sit out the game, he should be considered day-to-day. Eubanks figures to draw the start if Sabonis sits.<\/p>\n

Zach LaVine (back): Played through the back injury on Monday, so it would be mildly surprising if the 30-year-old guard doesn’t go tonight. Clifford or Ellis could start in LaVine’s place if he were to miss the contest.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Matt Pend<\/a>leton<\/a>, Imgan Images<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After news broke earlier today that an agreement was in place, the Sacramento Kings officially signed free agent Precious Achiuwa this afternoon. Achiuwa’s deal is for the veteran’s minimum ($2.29 million), according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. What Does Precious Achiuwa Bring To Kings and How Does He Fit In Doug Christie’s Rotation? Achiuwa is looking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":165787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,2,16,12,29,14],"tags":[1102,50023,3148,457],"class_list":["post-165655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-featured","category-heat","category-knicks","category-kings","category-raptors","tag-domantas-sabonis","tag-isaac-jones","tag-precious-achiuwa","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165655"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165796,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165655\/revisions\/165796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}