Metta World Peace will sign a $1.43 million contract on Thursday night with Sichuan of the Chinese Basketball Association, making him the league’s highest paid import player this season, sources told RealGM.

World Peace’s deal will be for one season, and he’ll search for a contract in the NBA once the Chinese season ends, sources said.

World Peace, 34, will be the most decorated NBA talent in China next season – a one-time champion, All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year in 15 mostly productive seasons. He had received a level of NBA interest before the overseas deal.

World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, had immense individual and team success in stops with the Indiana Pacers (2002-06) and Los Angeles Lakers (2009-13). He played in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2004, and the 6-foot-7 forward won an NBA title with the Lakers in 2010 when he filled the void of Trevor Ariza and made impact shots and defensive stands alongside Kobe Bryant.

After being released by the Lakers under the amnesty provision last summer, World Peace signed with the New York Knicks and averaged 4.8 points in 29 games in one year with his home team. World Peace went to high school in New York and played two collegiate seasons at St. John’s University.

World Peace averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists over his NBA career with six different teams. He was the 19th overall draft selection of the Chicago Bulls in 1999.

Byron Mullens has signed a contract with Shanxi Zhongyu in China.

Mullens is the third foreign player to round out Shanxi's roster.

Mullens signed with the Los Angeles Clippers last offseason and was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers before the NBA trade deadline.

Metta World Peace is nearing agreement to sign with the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association.

World Peace was waived by the New York Knicks in February and there's been some suggestions that he would receive a camp invite from the Knicks due to his relationship with Phil Jackson.

Stephen Holt has signed a professional contract with a team in Germany.

Holt, who averaged 8.6 points in the Las Vegas summer league, passed on a training camp invitation from the Atlanta Hawks.

Holt hopes to play for the Hawks again in summer league next year.

Norvel Pelle has signed a contract with the Dacin Tigers of Taiwan, a source tells RealGM.

Pelle was the No. 1 rated center in the incoming college class of 2011.

Pelle played 35 games in the D-League last season with the Delaware 87ers.

Emmanuel Mudiay has agreed upon a $1.2 million deal with Guangdong of the China Basketball Association.

Mudiay committed to SMU, but concerns of his eligibilty became an issue this month.

Mudiay is expected to be a top lottery pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Sportando first reported news of the agreement.

Jan Vesely is close to signing with Fenerbahce Ulker.

Vesely was the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and was traded last season to the Denver Nuggets.

Vesely has played in just 2,455 minutes over three NBA seasons.

Joey Dorsey and the Houston Rockets have agreed upon a two-year, $2 million deal.

Dorsey will play as a backup at center to Dwight Howard.

Dorsey played for Barcelona this past season.

Dorsey was a second round pick by the Rockets in 2008.

Emmanuel Mudiay is considering hiring an agent and signing overseas.

Mudiay committed to SMU, but he may not be eligible to play his freshman season due to amateurism concerns.

The Chinese Basketball Association has been discussed as a possible destination for Mudiay, a native of the Congo.

Mudiay is expected to be a high lottery pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Artem Klimenko plans to play next season in Russia with BC Avtodor Saratov, and the undrafted seven-footer has become comfortable with continuing to cultivate a relationship with his most interested NBA suitor in the Dallas Mavericks, league sources told RealGM.

Ever since Klimenko went unselected in the June NBA draft, the Mavericks have pursued an arrangement to monitor the 20-year-old’s development in Russia over the next season or two.

Klimenko is expected to head to the United States at some point in the summer to visit the Mavericks and their staff, sources said.

Throughout the NBA pre-draft process, Klimenko intrigued teams with his versatility, mobility and outside range. He had been under late consideration by the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers in the second round. Many around the NBA believe Klimenko needed to strengthen physically, strengthen his core work, but his size and potential intrigue everyone.

Klimenko had also played with BC Avtodor in the VTB league before declaring in the draft.