6:18pm: The signing is official, the Lakers announced.
4:31pm: The Lakers and unrestricted free agent forward Metta World Peace have agreed to a deal, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports. It will be a one-year, minimum salary arrangement that’s non-guaranteed, Wojnarowski adds. The contract is expected to be signed today and the veteran will take his physical on Friday, notes Wojnarowski.
The 35-year-old did not play in the NBA last season. He appeared in 29 games with the Knicks in 2013/14. Last season, he played 15 games for the Sichuan Blue Whales in the Chinese Basketball Association before a knee injury sidelined him. He finished out the season with Pallacanestro Cantu in the Italian League, averaging 13.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. World Peace does have a history with the Lakers, having played four seasons with them before joining the Knicks after Los Angeles used the amnesty provision to cut him loose. He appeared in 75 games with the Lakers in 2012/13, his final season in L.A., averaging 12.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists while making 66 starts.
World Peace is expected to make the regular season roster and play a role as a small forward off the bench, as well as to act as a veteran extension of coach Byron Scott in the young Lakers locker room, Wojnarowski writes. The addition of World Peace gives Los Angeles a roster count of 19 players, 12 of whom have fully guaranteed pacts.
Good pickup. Peace has always played defense to perfection his whole NBA career and it should help the lakers