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Metta World Peace Will Be Re-Joining The Lakers, Sources Say
Metta World Peace (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images)
Metta World Peace may have just finalized an agreement for a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Lakers.
League sources told Yahoo Sports that World Peace will sign the contract today and take a physical this week before joining the team for training camp in Hawaii on Monday. He's also expected to play as a small forward off the bench.
World Peace, who was previously known as Ron Artest before legally changing his name in 2011, previously played four seasons with the Lakers from 2009-2013. He was especially integral to the Lakers' NBA Championship win in 2010.
He has been absent from the NBA for a year—after being released by the New York Knicks during the 2013-2014 season, he played professional ball in China and Italy. At age 35, World Peace certainly isn't as spry as he once was, but Lakers staff believe his experience and leadership will help guide the younger players. World Peace has already developed a relationship with Lakers rookie Julius Randle.
World Peace has been informally working out with the Lakers squad this summer, which might explain this tweet from August 30:
#LakersNation WHATS UP?! I'm back! Have a great day and Go Lakers...
— Ron Artest (@Me_14480425856) August 30, 2015
Welcome back, World Peace. We hope there are many more moments like this to come:
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