Metta World Peace wants to play for the New York Knicks, according to a person close to the veteran small forward.
World Peace, who is expected to clear waivers at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, would be eligible to sign with the Knicks any time thereafter. The Knicks can offer him part of their taxpayer mid-level exception, which is roughly $1.7 million.
Looking for more Knicks news? ESPNNewYork.com has you covered.Blog "
While the Knicks are World Peace's first choice, he is also holding onto the Los Angeles Clippers and China's Shanghai Sharks as possible teams to join next season.
World Peace spoke Sunday with Yao Ming about playing in Shanghai, a source said.
The Los Angeles Lakers waived World Peace via the amnesty provision on Thursday. The following day, he said he was hoping no team claimed him off waivers and that he didn't have any interest in playing in the NBA next season.
"I don't really want to play for anybody," World Peace said. "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to go to China, or coach or play arena football."
At the time, World Peace also said he had no desire to play in New York, his hometown.
"I had a chance to play in New York [in the past]," he said. "I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young, fierce, lock-down [defender]. Madison Square Garden, that would have been sick. But right now, China is way more adventurous for me."
The 14-year veteran is coming off a resurgent season in which he averaged 12.4 points [up from 7.7 in 2011-12] and 5.0 rebounds [up from 3.4] and improved his shooting percentages from the floor, the 3-point line and the foul line.
Information from ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin was used in this report.
NBA analyst
No comments:
Post a Comment