During the offseason, when NBA players are typically on vacation and taking a break from basketball, Jalen Brunson shared an impressive anecdote about his new New York Knicks teammate, Mikal Bridges, which surprised many.
Brunson recounted at Fanatics Fest NYC, “He got off the plane from London last night (August 16), and then he was in the gym early this morning (August 17). That says everything you need to know about him.” The audience at The Theatre in the Jacob Javits Convention Center responded with enthusiastic approval.
As Brunson and Bridges reunite after their college days at Villanova, there’s considerable pressure on the Knicks this season, especially given what they gave up to acquire Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. The Knicks traded four unprotected picks and one top-four protected pick for Bridges, who has yet to make an All-Star team in his first six NBA seasons. Despite this, Brunson believes the cost was justified. “He fits the puzzle perfectly,” Brunson said, praising Bridges’ versatility and commitment.
After Isaiah Hartenstein left for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Knicks sought a replacement via trade. One target was Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto first reported the Knicks’ interest on June 24. According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, the Knicks engaged in trade discussions with the Jazz about Kessler. “Utah has discussed Kessler in trades, including a stalled negotiation with the Knicks. He doesn’t seem to be part of their long-term plans,” Pincus noted on August 23.
The high asking price for Kessler, which increased from one to two first-round picks over the summer, ultimately blocked the deal. “Utah has been asking for a couple of first-round picks for Kessler,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha reported on August 9.
When a team offered two first-round picks for Kessler, his market value surged. SNY’s Ian Begley reported on July 9 that although the Knicks showed interest, their offers were rebuffed, highlighting the high valuation the Jazz placed on Kessler.
Unable to secure Kessler, the Knicks explored other options, including auditioning Omer Yurtseven, Kessler’s backup from last season, and trying to sign Frenchman Mathias Lessort. Ultimately, they decided to re-sign Precious Achiuwa, who had also played as a backup power forward for the Knicks last season.
Achiuwa, in 49 games (18 starts), averaged 7.6 points on 52.5% shooting, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.2 minutes. During the Knicks’ playoff run, he averaged 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 20.5 minutes over nine games. Achiuwa’s one-year deal is worth $6 million, and he waived his no-trade clause, making him a potential trade asset for the Knicks before the February trade deadline. He will become trade-eligible on December 15, according to Begley. Combining Achiuwa’s salary with Miles McBride’s ($4.7 million) or another acquisition using the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel exception could potentially bring back a player in the $11 to $12 million range.
