New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Metta World Peace's return to New York has reached an early ending, with the Knicks announcing Monday that they have placed the controversial veteran on waivers.
The Knicks also released seldom-used guard Beno Udrih. Both players will be free to sign with any team if they clear waivers.
World Peace, a Queens native and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, signed a two-year contract with the Knicks in July but appeared in just 29 games this season while battling injuries. The 34-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 13.4 minutes per game, the lowest of his 15-year career in all of those categories.
The former Ron Artest averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 75 games with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012-13.
Udrih, a member of two NBA championship teams in San Antonio in 2005 and 2007, also struggled to find consistent playing time in his lone season in New York. The journeyman guard averaged 5.6 points and 3.5 assists in 31 games with the Knicks, 12 of which were starts.
"We are disappointed that it did not work out for Beno and Metta here in New York," Knicks general manager Steve Mills said. "We thank them for their contributions this season and wish them well."
World Peace had a player option for $1.6 million for next season, while Udrih will be an unrestricted free agent in 2014-15.