Metta World Peace, at the age of 35, is dead set on making a comeback to the NBA after playing a season plus overseas. World Peace last played with the New York Knicks in the 2013-14 season before being waived but still thinks he could play at the NBA level. There were reports earlier this offseason that the Los Angeles Lakers were considering bringing back World Peace as a bench option, but that may not be the case, according to Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News.
World Peace has been working out at the Lakers facility to get in shape for the season, which prompted rumors about a return to the Lakers. Kobe Bryant was reportedly on board with World Peace returning, but the former Laker said that he and Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak have yet to discuss a return.
"Me and Mitch have a cool relationship, but we have not talked about me coming back to the Lakers, I call Mitch about other things. We just have a good relationship. Whether I come to the Lakers or not, me and Mitch would still be cool," said World Peace.
World Peace still believes he is one of the best small forwards in the world despite being well past his prime, and his last NBA stint would indicate otherwise. In 29 games with the Knicks, World Peace averaged just 4.8 points per game and wasn't nearly as effective on defense as he was during the prime of his career.
After playing parts of the last two seasons in Italy and China, the 6-foot-6 forward is hoping to get a shot with an NBA team for training camp. World Peace has had his agent reach out to NBA teams to gauge what kind of interest he would get, but so far there hasn't been much in the way of contract offers. World Peace helped the Lakers win an NBA Championship in 2010, but they are now going in a much younger direction, so bringing in a player who is way over the hump may not be in their best interest.
World Peace may get a shot with another NBA team, but at this point it doesn't seem like that team will be the Lakers. If he is given a training camp invite, it is highly unlikely that the man formerly known as Ron Artest makes an impact in the league this season.
