After the New York Knicks waived Metta World Peace during the 2013-14 season it appeared that his NBA career was over. World Peace played in China and Italy last year but it appears he may be making a comeback to the NBA for the 2015-16 season as the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly seriously considering giving him a deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
World Peace has reportedly been in the Lakers' practice facility this summer playing with some of the Lakers players including Julius Randle. No deal is imminent right now between the two sides but there have been some serious talks between the Lakers and World Peace's representatives. The Lakers organization reportedly has mixed feelings on whether they should bring back the man formerly known as Ron Artest, but Kobe Bryant is reportedly all for the idea.
World Peace was a member of the Lakers from 2009-2013 and was a huge piece of the team that won the 2010 NBA Championship against the Boston Celtics. In World Peace's four seasons with the Lakers he averaged 9.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while making 34 percent of his three point attempts and providing lock down defense. World Peace was amnestied by the Lakers after the 2012-13 season so that they could save money against the cap.
The way the Lakers roster is currently constructed they are loaded at the guard position but very thin at small forward which is where the interest in World Peace comes from. Kobe is expected to start at small forward but behind him there is Nick Young, who is more of a shooting guard like Kobe, and rookies Larry Nance Jr., and Jonathan Holmes. World Peace would be brought in to provide depth at the small forward position, likely as a backup to Bryant.
World Peace is now 35 years old and didn't have a good showing in his last NBA stint. He was bad enough for the Knicks in 2013-14 that he was cut. Not only did he not provide much offensively for the Knicks while he was there but he was also below average defensively. World Peace is certainly past his prime and may not have much left in the tank but maybe a return to Los Angeles will give him a second wind to have one last good season.
