The Los Angeles Lakers begin Training Camp in Santa Barbara on Tuesday, and it was reported Wednesday that the team has re-signed veteran forward Metta World Peace to help complete the Training Camp roster.
Though none of the terms of the deal have been released, it would make sense if it were a training camp deal like the one World Peace signed last year as the Lakers are already at the maximum of 14 guaranteed contracts while Yi Jianlian has a very large partial guarantee basically making him a lock as well.
The case was the same for World Peace last season as he faced long odds, but ultimately won the last roster spot on the team out of camp, beating out some younger players.
According to Mike Breshnahan of Spectrum SportsNet, World Peace is excited to return to the team for Training Camp:
Metta World Peace, 36, says he's "very excited" about rejoining Lakers: "I can still play. It's great to be going to training camp."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) September 21, 2016
Last year, World Peace appeared in 35 games for the Lakers, starting in five, and averaging 5.0 points and 2.5 rebounds. More than his play on the court, the 36-year-old served as a mentor and almost as a player-coach to the young nucleus of players on the team.
Whether that will be enough to make the roster again this season remains to be seen. The Lakers have also signed Zach Auguste, Travis Wear, Julian Jacobs and Thomas Robinson to training camp deals so World Peace will have to beat out those guys as well.
Additionally, the ongoing question remains whether or not Nick Young will remain with the Lakers. Young’s contract is fully guaranteed, but rumors have been constant all summer that the team is looking to get rid of him. If that roster spot ultimately opens up, World Peace’s odds of making the team clearly improves.
