The Sacramento Kings are mercifully inching towards the end of a brutal season, one that will take years to fully recover from. It's also the beginning of a rebuild that will hopefully turn things around in Sactown. Precious Achiuwa needs to be part of that and could be key to the success of that process.
As hard as this is to believe, Achiuwa started 2025-2026 without a roster. The Kings signed him a few games into the season on a veteran minimum contract. It's important to keep in mind that the contract is only good through the end of the season.
That means Achiuwa will be an unrestricted free agent when 2025-2026 comes to a close, which is something Sacramento's front office needs be thinking about now. Precious has been playing great ball for the Kings and has oddly become a strong part of their rookie core.
The Beam Boys are in full effect
Alongside rookies Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, and Nique Clifford, Achiuwa is one fourth of a group called the Beam Boys. Precious is the only member of the crew on a veteran contract, but the four of them have found a solid rhythm together that the Kings need to lean into.
More than that, Achiuwa has also proven that he can be a key player on both the Kings' offense and defense. Last night against the Pelicans, he pulled down a double-double consisting of 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Even more impressive was his efficiency, shooting 12 of 16 from the field. On top of that, Achiuwa played a relatively clean game. By the time it was all said and done, he only had two personal fouls and zero turnovers. He's been playing ball like this for the Kings for a while now.
Achiuwa is part of the Kings' future
In the last eight games, Precious has four double-doubles as well as three other games that were in the neighborhood. In that same time frame, he's only committed seven turnovers and 15 personal fouls. Plus, he's a seasoned defender that can help the rookies find that part of their game.
The Kings are going into a rebuild process that's focused on youth and versatility. Achiuwa might be on a veteran minimum contract, but he's also only 26 and is definitely in his prime. He has the unique position of being at the top of his game while also being a sobering veteran presence for the rookies.
There are basically no end of reasons why the Kings need to make sure Precious Achiuwa stays in Sacramento. He and Russell Westbrook are easily the most important veterans on the roster. How that plays out is up to the front office.