Metta World Peace: ‘Of course I’m interested in Clippers’
Metta World Peace wouldn’t mind playing for the Clippers now that he’s a free agent.
“Of course I’m interested in Clippers,” World Peace texted to The Times on Sunday. “I have to meet them first.”
The Clippers also are interested in speaking with World Peace, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
There have been reports the New York Knicks are also interested in World Peace, who was waived by the Lakers under the amnesty provision on Thursday.
Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific time was the deadline for teams with salary cap room to bid on World Peace. But no team did, allowing him to clear waivers and negotiate with the team of his choice.
The most the Clippers can pay a player with World Peace’s experience level is $1.4 million.
He still will get the $7.7 million owed by the Lakers.
World Peace, 33, averaged a career-low 7.7 points during the 2011-12 season, but he improved under Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system last season, averaging 12.4 points.
But World Peace suffered torn cartilage in his knee in March. He returned after only 12 days and was not as productive after that. He averaged six points a game and shot 25% in the playoffs for the Lakers.
World Peace has played small forward most of his career, the same position the Clippers already have three players at – Jared Dudley, Matt Barnes and rookie Reggie Bullock.
But at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, World Peace can play some power forward because of his strength, something he did for the Lakers at times last season.
twitter.com/BA_Turner
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
