Lakers leaning toward keeping MWP

After losing Dwight Howard, the Lakers roster looks incredibly bare with only seven players officially on the roster. After reports came out yesterday that the Lakers would be keeping Pau Gasol, but likely using the amnesty provision on MWP, now the latter may not be true.

According to LA Times writer Mike Bresnahan, the Lakers are leaning toward keeping enigmatic forward formerly known as Ron Artest.

"Pau Gasol will stay and the Lakers are leaning toward keeping Metta World Peace instead of waiving him under the one-time amnesty provision, according to a person familiar with the situation."

From a financial standpoint, this may not be the most sound move. However, given the state of the Lakers roster, their hand may be forced. On top of only having seven players, World Peace is the only player suited to play small forward. Kobe Bryant played 24% of the team’s minutes there last year, but that’s too much to ask of a man coming off Achilles surgery.