New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson. AP FILE PHOTO
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are preparing to buy out the contracts of veterans Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih.
Coach Mike Woodson said neither player would be available Saturday night for the Knicks’ game in Atlanta.
“We’re going in a different direction and we’ve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub,” Woodson said.
World Peace wrote on his Twitter account earlier Saturday that his agent was working on a buyout and thanked fans and the city.
Neither veteran has earned a place in Woodson’s rotation in his first season in New York. Udrih has appeared in just 31 games, while World Peace, who had a procedure on his knee in January, has played in just 29.
“I can’t say anything went wrong,” Woodson said. “Again, they weren’t in the rotations. I’m not going to linger on it. I mean, we’re buying them out. As a coach, guys work for me, I wish them nothing but the best as they move on and we’re going to move on. So that’s about the extent of it.”
Players have to be waived by March 1 if they hope to sign with another team and be eligible for the playoffs.