Reports started to surface the Los Angeles Lakers were entertaining the idea of reuniting with Metta World Peace, formerly Ron Artest, about two weeks ago, but World Peace claimed he didn’t know anything about it.
The latest report has the two parties inching closer to a one-year deal, and there is confidence around the league a deal will get done sometime this month, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Yahoo Sources: Metta World Peace has begun to work out daily at Lakers’ facility, inching closer to a return to franchise on one-year deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 9, 2015
I'm told from a league source close to Metta World Peace that there's confidence a deal with the Lakers will happen
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 9, 2015
The reports re-emerged after World Peace begun working out at the Lakers facility in El Segundo, California on the daily. He participated in informal team workouts this week and is expected to continue those workouts through training camp.
It was no secret World Peace had been putting work in throughout the off-season, but the extra work suggests something else is brewing.
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Although World Peace is playing it close to the vest, he did acknowledge training with Lakers forward Julius Randle earlier this summer in an interview with ESPN’s Max and Marcellus.
It’s also been reported officials within the Lakers organization have warmed up to the idea of bringing in another “mature veteran who can impact their young roster” in a positive way.
The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is most known for his toughness, tenacity and resolve. The Lakers are dealing with a roster that lacks those characteristics at the moment.
L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina confirmed the report and even went as far to say World Peace has been training inside the facility for the last two months. It’s pretty clear “Ron” ramping up his training regiment was just the next step in the process.
I'm told Metta has trained at Lakers' facility regularly since July. B. Scott has noted Metta worked out at facility earlier this year too
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 9, 2015
It’s also apparent head coach Byron Scott is aware of the situation even if World Peace is unwilling to reveal anything up to this point.
It’s not like World Peace to be so diplomatic. He’s usually more candid, but it’s possible his NBA future depends on his diplomacy. It doesn’t appear as though any other franchises are calling to find out about the 35-year-old’s services.
This might be his only chance to revitalize what’s left of his NBA career, especially with how unceremoniously he left New York. The Knicks waived World Peace in February 2014 for the second time (Lakers, July 2013) in seven months to get out from under him.
TMZ Sports caught up with World Peace outside of a restaurant in Hollywood, California a little over two weeks ago for his take on the initial reports.
World Peace felt like he didn’t get a fair shake in New York after never thoroughly recovering from a knee injury he suffered while with the Lakers in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
He rushed back to help a depleted team that had done everything accept wave the white flag and underwent a second knee procedure while with the Knicks in January 2014.
World Peace feels like he can not only contribute to a basketball club but continue to play at a high level. He’s not the only one who believes this to be true.
A player within the Lakers locker room acknowledged World Peace still has plenty of game left after meeting up with him earlier in the summer. Tzvi Twersky, a contributing editor of Slam Magazine, confirmed as much.
The Lakers roster is already at 13 after inking European playmaker Marcelo Huertas to a rookie minimum the other day. A deal with World Peace would potentially only leave one roster spot up for grabs heading into training camp.
That worries a lot of Lakers fans who were hoping the team would continue to build toward the future. However, the team has a number of non-guaranteed contracts so the roster is by no means set in stone.
Ten of the 17 players under contract have guaranteed roster spots, and that includes Ryan Kelly. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him moved if somebody really shines in camp.
Jordan Clarkson technically doesn’t have a guarantee, but the team is thoroughly invested in his future. No concern there. Don’t be surprised if Robert Sacre gets waived for the much more talented Robert Upshaw.
Tarik Black showed too much promise last season not to make the team. Huertas and World Peace figure to receive the last two spots.
Next: Elfrid Payton and Jahlil Okafor: Better Lakers Combo?
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