Mike D’Antoni Did Not Want Lakers to Amnesty Metta World Peace
By Josh Sanchez
The Los Angeles Lakers made the move to amnesty Metta World Peace based on a purely financial decision, but it hasn’t been a very popular move among fans, players and now the coaching staff. After Kobe Bryant spoke up and stated that he was against the move to amnesty World Peace, head coach Mike D’Antoni stated that it is a move he did not want made.
From Marc Berman of the New York Post:
"Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said today the decision to amnesty Metta World Peace was purely financial and he wanted to keep the defensive small forward from Queensbridge.“Obviously it’s a byproduct of the CBA,’’ D’Antoni told The Post today at the Las Vegas summer league at UNLV. “As a person and player, I couldn’t find anyone better. He’s great. I enjoyed coaching him. I hope he finds something great. He deserves it. It’s not the coaches. It’s management. They have to manage the cap.’’"
World Peace is now unsure of his next move now that he is no longer a member of the Lakers.
Some reports have said that the Los Angeles Clippers are atop his list of destinations so that he does not need to relocate, but there have also been reports that World Peace could be heading to China to play ball.
Whatever decision he makes will be best for him, but Bryant and D’Antoni will be left upset that they watched a player they wanted to stick around and help win games is walking out the door.