Metta World Peace says he's returning to Lakers with 1-year deal

Metta World Peace has agreed to return to the Los Angeles Lakers on a one-year deal, he told ESPN.

"I'm excited about everything. I'm prepared to help the young guys grow. To play, everything," he said.

After playing in China in 2014, World Peace returned to the NBA last season, appearing in 35 games and averaging 5.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in limited action. Much like last season, the Lakers added the popular veteran to their training camp roster to provide leadership with their young players, whom he'd been working out with at their facility over the summer.

World Peace, 36, is also a former teammate of new Lakers coach Luke Walton.

"Luke's always been like a coach, even when he was playing," World Peace said.

The Lakers already have 14 guaranteed contracts, not including the partially guaranteed contract they have out to Yi Jianlian, the 7-foot star of the China's national team. World Peace said his deal was "the same as last year," when he played his way onto the roster with an non-guaranteed contract.

The agreement was first reported by TheLead Sports.

The Lakers announced Wednesday that they had signed forward Thomas Robinson. Terms were not disclosed. Robinson has played four seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, averaging 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds.