The Los Angeles Lakers used its amnesty provision on Thursday to waive Metta World Peace. Since his release, the New York Knicks are reportedly pursuing the small forward. World Peace, however, has other plans — and they might not include playing in the NBA.
Los Angeles saved around $15 million in luxury taxes by using the one-time amnesty provision on World Peace. The 33-year-old forward played four seasons with the Lakers, including the 2009-10 season when Los Angeles won the NBA Finals.
With a proven defensive-minded forward on the market, the Knicks are interested in signing World Peace, the New York Post reported.
"[General manager] Glen [Grunwald] is coming up and we'll sit and talk more about him," Knicks coach Mike Woodson told reporters on Thursday. "... It can happen. We got to sit patiently and wait and keep roster spots open to see if that may happen."
World Peace's father, Ron Artest Sr., believes his son would sign with New York if offered.
"I feel it's a big, big possibility," Artest Sr. told reporters on Thursday. "If the Knicks go after Ron, I can't see him turning them down."
World Peace was born in Queens, and his father still lives in New York. Signing with the Knicks would be a homecoming and a childhood dream come true.
"My gut feels like if the Knicks want him not, my gut tells me it will happen," Artest Sr. added. "I haven't spoken to him yet tonight. I think he could be a prized possession for the Knicks. He wanted to play for the Knicks for so long, since childhood."
According to the L.A. Times, World Peace has other plans — and they don't appear to include another year in the NBA.
"I don't really want to play for anybody," World Peace told ESPN reporters. "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to go to China, or coach or play arena football."
It's uncertain how serious the mercurial forward is. He did, however, have fun on twitter making light of his unemployment.
