If Metta World Peace doesn’t make the Lakers roster, he could join them in another capacity.
Metta World Peace has been through multiple stints with the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined them for the second of back to back championships in 2009-10 and became a steady role player next to Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. World Peace also stuck around during the franchise’s recent hard times, including rejoining them for the 2015-16 season. This saw him play just 35 games and post near career lows in almost every category.
However, even at 36-years-old, World Peace is still fighting for a roster spot at the end of the Lakers bench. He has a difficult task, though, with offseason acquisitions Luol Deng, Brandon Ingram, Yi Jianlian, Timofey Mozgov, and Thomas Robinson taking up minutes. However, if the former Chicago Bulls draft pick doesn’t make the roster, he might still have a role in Los Angeles.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Ramona Shelbourne, the Lakers are interested in keeping World Peace as an assistant coach if he doesn’t make the final cuts. He had been brought in to mentor players last season and got invited to training camp for the same reason. There isn’t word if World Peace would take this role as the report notes he still wants to play basketball. They have to make a decision on his future by Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET, which is the deadline for finalizing rosters.
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At this stage in his career, World Peace may be better off as a coach to give the Lakers young talent extra minutes. This would help the growth of Jordan Clarkson, Ingram, Julius Randle, and D’Angelo Russell, among others. They’re moving into the post-Kobe era, and could use the veteran mind helping them on the court. Given the former Ron Artest’s declining skills and all the players ahead of him, though, a coaching role may suit him best if he wants to remain in Los Angeles.