UPDATE (8:13 PM ET): Metta World Peace denies wanting the Knicks to trade him by the deadline.
Being Traded never came out my mouth. Dont listen to these stories. life is fun. Whats so bad about playing.
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) February 8, 2014
After the 2012-13 NBA season came to an end, the future was uncertain to say the least for Metta World Peace. Despite being extremely popular with fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and playing a major role in the team’s last title in 2010, World Peace was amnestied by the Lakers and eventually signed with the New York Knicks.
Unfortunately for World Peace, things haven’t worked out as planned in New York and it appears he’s open to be traded elsewhere according to Marc Berman of the New York Post:
Metta World Peace is in Knicks coach Mike Woodson’s doghouse and he’s unsure why. After returning from a blood-spinning procedure on Jan. 24, World Peace has seen little time in the rotation and now is open to getting traded, according to a league source. …
“He didn’t sign up for this,” one person close to him said.
When asked about whether he wanted to get dealt at the Feb. 20 deadline, World Peace said: “That’s up to my agent. I don’t worry about it. I’m optimistic about my future. … I’m not going to complain.”
With the Knicks currently struggling to compete in a weak Eastern Conference, New York being active over the next few weeks leading up the NBA trade deadline will come as no surprise.
A lot of speculation has circulated about Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo this season. Anthony can opt-out of his contract with the Knicks in the off-season and may do so while Rondo may be on his way out of Boston with the Celtics potentially shipping him to New York.
Regardless of Anthony’s intentions, the Knicks wheeling and dealing before the deadline on Feb. 20 is highly likely with World Peace possibly headed elsewhere.
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