It is coming down to the wire for the Los Angeles Lakers regarding setting their final roster ahead of the 2016-17 NBA season. Three players are currently on the roster bubble with Metta World Peace being one of those three.
Although World Peace wants to eventually play 20 seasons, the veteran forward has an opportunity to transition into coaching right now. The Lakers are reportedly interested in World Peace joining Luke Walton’s coaching staff if he doesn’t make the final roster, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne:
The odds are against Metta World Peace making the Los Angeles Lakers’ Opening Night roster, but the Lakers have interest in keeping the veteran forward around as an assistant coach if they can’t make room for him as an active player, according to league sources.
World Peace is currently battling with Thomas Robinson and Yi Jianlian for the team’s final spot on the roster. Robinson may be the favorite to get the last spot, but Walton has admitted the team still doesn’t know what they do with Monday’s deadline approaching.
Despite having the potential opportunity to make the jump into coaching on the NBA level, World Peace may elect to try and extend his playing career if cut by the Lakers, via ESPN:
Sources say that World Peace’s preference, at age 36, is to continue his playing career, even if the Lakers ultimately decide they won’t keep him and that forces him to look elsewhere.
Regardless of World Peace’s intentions, the Lakers will need to make their final cuts by Mon. Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. In all likelihood, World Peace will be released and forced to make a decision as to whether his playing days in the NBA are over.