Sports digest: Lakers bring back Metta World Peace

The Lakers expect to sign forward Metta World Peace before training camp begins with the team’s annual media day on Monday in El Segundo.

During his career, World Peace has averaged 13.8 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game, and 0.8 steals per game.

It’s now official: Metta World Peace is, once again, a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. While World Peace has been out of the National Basketball Association for a year after last playing for the New York Knicks in 2013-14, he has been a steady presence at the Lakers’ practice facility this offseason.

The first, of course, involves Kobe Bryant playing out his presumed a year ago on his own terms.

The trainers had let him back into the gym in March to start his long, lonely return to the Los Angeles Lakers’ lineup, and Randle desperately resisted the slow, steady churn of the regimen.

While his insertion is obviously expected to toughen up the Lakers’ defense, it was his work with Julius Randle that reportedly impressed the Lakers the most.

The 15-year veteran’s deal is non-guaranteed, but he is likely to make the team since they are in urgent need of more depth at the small forward position. The team is loaded with current, former and potentially future All-Stars, many of whom have been with the Heat for at least a year, but several key guys have little to no experience with each other. “They’re both mega-competitors”.

Even if this reunion is short-lived and not for the duration of the season, as I certainly hope it is, I think I speak for all of Lakers Nation when I say, “Welcome back, Metta!”

In addition to World Peace, the Lakers are auditioning Tarik Black, Jabari Brown, Robert Upshaw, Jonathan Holmes, Michael Frazier and Marcelo Huertas.

World Peace was honored with the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2011, and is actively involved in mental health awareness initiatives.

World Peace, known as Ron Artest before changing his name in 2011, is the 19th player on Los Angeles’ roster.