NBA roundup: World Peace agrees to play for Knicks
Metta World Peace has agreed to a two-year contract with the New York Knicks, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
World Peace, who cleared waivers Sunday after being amnestied by the Los Angeles Lakers, confirmed the deal himself in an interview with MSG Network.
ESPNNewYork.com reported that the first year of the deal is guaranteed and is worth about $1.6 million per season. It includes a player option for the second year.
The Lakers still owe World Peace $7.3 million in the coming season.
Earlier, World Peace had expressed interest in playing for the Clippers or heading overseas to Shanghai.
Last season for the Lakers, World Peace, 33, averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 75 games, including 66 starts.
---Hakeem Olajuwon has been hired to work closely with Dwight Howard and the rest of the Houston Rockets' big men this season.
Olajuwon is the Rockets' all-time leading scorer. The 50-year-old will not likely be with the team on a daily basis, general manager Daryl Morey said.
Howard will work with Olajuwon on a regular basis, as will the other Rockets' big men.
--- The Rockets signed second-round draft pick Isaiah Canaan and agreed to terms with rookie free agents Robert Covington and B.J. Young, the team announced.
---Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose said that he is 100 percent healthy and will play the first game of this season, according to Hoops Hype.
Rose, who had ACL surgery after injuring his knee in the 2012 playoffs, was medically cleared in February but said he would not play until he feels ready.
---The Atlanta Hawks signed forward/center Elton Brand, the team announced.
Terms were not disclosed by the Hawks, but ESPN reported that it is a one-year contract.
Brand, 34, averaged 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 assists in 21.2 minutes in 72 games last season with the Dallas Mavericks.
---The Sacramento Kings announced that they signed free agent forward Carl Landry to a multi-year contract.
Landry returns to Sacramento after playing for the Golden State Warriors last season. He averaged 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 81 games as a backup power forward.
---Free-agent center Greg Oden is meeting with the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas this week, according to ESPN.
Oden was scheduled to meet with the Mavericks on Monday. The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are considered the favorites to land Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were also interested in Oden but are no longer considering him after signing Andrew Bynum last week.
---The Memphis Grizzlies re-signed guard Tony Allen and forward Jon Leuer to multi-year contracts, the team announced.
---The Detroit Pistons announced they re-signed guard Will Bynum and signed free agent forward Luigi Datome to multi-year contracts.
Bynum averaged 9.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.7 steals in a career-high 65 games last season.
Datome, 25, has played professionally in Italy since 2003.
---The Lakers signed free agent forward Wesley Johnson, the team announced. The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that it is a one-year deal.
Last season, Johnson averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes over 50 games for the Phoenix Suns.
