NBA center Daniel Orton joined CBA club Sichuan to replace 2004 NBA defensive player of the year Metta World Peace, the Chinese club said on Tuesday night.

Two days after the club announced the news that World Peace had a recurrent knee injury, Sichuan nailed a deal with the 2.08-meter center who was the 29th pick in 2010 draft and played for the Orlando Magic.

No details of the deal are released.

Sichuan club claimed that World Peace had a recurrent knee injury which worsened on Sunday when Sichuan lost to Foshan 118-102 in the 16th round of China's top basketball league.

Rumors had it that World Peace was about to be sacked after just playing 15 games for the CBA newcomer but the club denied.

World Peace started 6 out of 15 matches, averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 steals.