The Los Angeles Clippers signed Kenyon Martin on Friday, the free agent forward returning to the NBA after a stint with the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers in China.

“Kenyon is the ultimate competitor and a key acquisition,” Clippers Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey said in a statement.

“We expect that he will provide additional experience, passion and professionalism, as well as some important depth to our front court.”

Martin is expected to join the Clippers on their current road trip in Orlando.

The Clippers stuck with club policy and did not announce terms of the deal, but the Los Angeles Times reported that Martin inked a one-year contract for $US2.5 million.

After leaving the Tigers in December, he was required to wait until their Chinese Basketball Association campaign was over before he could join any NBA team.

But the Los Angeles Times reported he had been cleared to return to the NBA by world governing body FIBA.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said the 34-year-old veteran, who has played 654 NBA games with New Jersey and Denver, will give the team more depth.

“Kenyon gives us another dimension,” Del Negro told the Times as the team travelled to Washington, where they were to launch their road trip on Saturday.

“He gives us some more depth up front, which we needed.”