The New York Knicks will be among the teams hoping to sign Metta World Peace if he's amnestied by the Los Angeles Lakers and hits the free-agent market, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to amnesty World Peace, who will make $7.7 million in the final year of his contract, as early as Wednesday. The New York native would then be subjected to the NBA's amnesty waiver process. Teams with salary-cap space can bid on amnestied players with the highest bidder being awarded the player.

If World Peace clears waivers, he is free to sign with the team of his choosing. The Knicks would like to sign him using the veteran's minimum.

World Peace, 33, averaged 12.5 points and five rebounds for the Lakers last season. He could become a candidate to start at small forward for the Knicks, the source said.

Acquiring World Peace wouldn’t lessen the Knicks' desire to sign Dallas Mavericks free-agent forward Elton Brand, the source said.

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