Metta World Peace Goes to the Knicks

Despite his recent rants about China, Metta World Peace wanted to play in New York. Since the Knicks wanted a perimeter defender; both parties seem to win as Metta World Peace signed a one year deal with the Knickerbockers.

The Lakers cut ‘World Peace’ last week, and despite his latest rants, he managed to play where he actually wanted to be. “I don’t care if I’m starting, or sweeping the floors. You hear me? I want to win,” he said.

The deal is worth approximately $1.6 million per season with an option for Year 2.

“I know his name has been surfacing out there,” coach Mike Woodson said in Las Vegas, at the summer league team competing. “I can coach any player. I coached guys from 18-, 19-, 20-year-old young men, and built a team in Atlanta, and that’s tough for a first-time coach. So I experienced that, and I don’t think there’s a player I can’t coach if he’s willing to be coached. … If anybody comes to this team, they’ve got to understand it’s all about team, man. It’s not about individuals here; it’s not about me as a coach. It’s about the New York franchise trying to win an NBA title. If you understand that, then we’ve got a chance. I like his skill sets a lot. I think a lot of teams have liked his skill sets over the years. He does a little bit of everything.”

The Knicks are currently 30/1 odds to win the 2013-14 season, especially now that Brooklyn, Indiana, and Chicago have gone better in the offseason.