Lakers bring back forward Metta World Peace on one-year deal

Metta World Peace will rejoin the Lakers on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal.

Metta World Peace rejoins the Lakers on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal, the team announced on Thursday. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report the deal.

According toWojnarowski​, the 35-year-old forward will sign with Los Angeles, where he played from 2009–13, on Thursday. World Peace will then take a physical Friday to formalize the agreement and barring any twists will join the Lakers on Monday for training camp in Hawaii.

World Peace is reportedly expected to make the roster and come off the bench at small forward while serving in a mentorship role for the Lakers’ young players, Julius Randle in particular. He has been working out with the team informally all summer after a year-long hiatus from the NBA, where he last played with the Knicks in 2014. 

After being waived by New York, World Peace played parts of the 2014–15 season in China and Italy.

World Pace holds career averages of 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds with the Bulls, Pacers, Kings, Rockets, Lakers and Knicks. He won a title with the Lakers in 2010 and was defensive player of the year in 2004. 

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- Jeremy Woo