After a month of speculation, the Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Metta World Peace on Thursday to start the player's second stint with the team. The first time around, World Peace fell victim to the amnesty provision and the business of basketball.
However, the organization spoke glowingly of World Peace, and the colorful character could regularly be seen sitting at Lakers' games at Staples Center over the past couple seasons. The last time World Peace joined the Lakers, he helped them to a title, but his addition this season seems more geared to mentoring young forward Julius Randle than leading the purple and gold to a title.
"It's great to have (World Peace) go against Julius (Randle)," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak spoke about World Peace earlier in the day. "To watch those two guys practice is almost comical what they do to each other. I'm not sure who gets the better of it. I would be surprised if either player admitted to anybody that they hurt more after practice than they hurt before practice."
Kupchak chose not to spill the beans on World Peace joining the team during his press conference, but only a few hours later, the Lakers announced that World Peace had officially signed with the team.
"They're both mega competitors," Kupchak said about Randle and World Peace. "Clearly, Metta is much closer to the end than he is the beginning. I know in a half court game--I've watched him play for the last six weeks--he can still be very effective on a court."
Although Kupchak spoke glowingly about World Peace, he also stated that guaranteed contracts would not ensure a roster spot. The Lakers would not hesitate to take a younger player that out performs a veteran on a guaranteed contract. World Peace's contract will likely be guaranteed considering he is a veteran and his history with the team.
"Training camp would be very important," Kupchak continued. "As a person, (World Peace)'s been with us for years. I've gotten to know him very well. I think he'd be great in the locker room with young players."
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Without a doubt, the biggest reason to add World Peace to the roster is to in instill a level of professionalism in a young player like Randle. World Peace may be known for funny quotes, but in the locker room and when it comes to the game, he sets an example to follow. A young 20-year-old Randle starting his career could learn tricks on the court and in prepartion from a 35-year-old World Peace.
Kupchak added, "But we have to be careful not to use a roster spot too early because we have a lot of young kids...that we're going to bring to camp, and we don't want to get ourselves in a bind by getting 15 roster spots taken and not giving the young kids that could be very talented a chance to make the team."
