The Knicks did not extend their winter transfer qualifying offer

The Knicks have decided not to extend Precious Achiuwa’s $6.3 million qualifying offer, league sources tell Fred Katz of The Athletic. The decision means the 24-year-old big man will be unrestricted when he hits free agency on Sunday.

New York hasn’t ruled out re-signing Achiuwa, Katz adds, but the team didn’t want to risk him accepting QO quickly, which would impact its hard cap situation as it tries to work out the trade details to acquire Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges.

The Knicks acquired Achiuwa in late December as part of the OG Anunoby trade, and he ended up playing a significant role in the face of long-term injuries to Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and others. Achiuwa appeared in 49 games after the trade, starting 18 and averaging 7.6 points and 7.2 assists in 24.2 minutes per night.

The Knicks have picked up a $2 million team option on Jericho Sims for next season, according to a source Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The reserve center still has only a partial guarantee of 651,000. dollars on his $2.09 million salary, with trigger dates in July and August. Sims, who spent the last three seasons in New York, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Team declines DaQuan Jeffries’ $2.5 million option, Katz relays. Jeffries, who has played in 17 games, will become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday.

Katz notes that the Knicks have extended a qualifying offer to two-way forward Jacob Toppin, making him a restricted free agent. However, two-way players Duane Washington Jr. and Charlie Brown Jr. they did not receive QO.