A familiar face might be returning soon in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as free agent forward Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest) is reportedly close to inking a one-year deal with his former team the Los Angeles Lakers.
World Peace recently played for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and Pallacanestro Cantù in Italy since leaving the NBA.
Late last month, the 35-year-old veteran was reported to be working out in the Lakers' practice facility in El Segundo, California for the past two months with the team's 2014 no. 7 pick Julius Randle.
Now, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahooo Sports reported that World Peace is close to making a return to the NBA and the Lakers through a one-year contract, although no agreement has been reached yet.
Wojnarowski added that World Peace is having "informal workouts" at the Lakers' facility with the team's players and it is expected to continue until the opening of training camp.
The last time World Peace was in the NBA, he played in only 29 games with the New York Knicks and averaged 4.8 points per contest before being waived February last year.
World Peace became a member of the Lakers after they signed him in 2009 following his stint with the Houston Rockets.
In his first season with the Lakers, he easily made an impact and came up big in the playoffs to help the team win the 2010 NBA championship.
If World Peace rejoins Los Angeles, he would be providing toughness, veteran leadership, and defensive presence.
He will also likely be mentoring the young big men of the Lakers who had decent acquisitions this offseason including their picks in the 2015 draft.
The Lakers will be opening their 2015–16 season on Oct. 28 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center but before that will play eight games in the preseason.
