Metta World Peace could be on the verge of returning to the Lakers.
Los Angeles is considering signing World Peace, who played with the club from 2009-13, to a one-year contract, according to Yahoo Sports.
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While a deal hasn't been made official, there are ongoing talks between World Peace's camp and the Lakers as the team looks to garner depth at the small forward position. Per the report, there has been a mixed consensus among Lakers representatives about bringing him back, but Kobe Bryant is an advocate for the move in what could prove to be his final NBA season.
World Peace has been at the Lakers practice facility, working out with some of the teams young players, which includes 2014 first-round pick Julius Randle. World Peace spent last season playing in China and Italy, but he hasn't played in the NBA since he was waived by the Knicks in 2013-14. He was amnestied by Los Angeles in 2013.
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There is some trepidation in adding World Peace as he is now 35 and his best playing days could be behind him.
The former Bulls first-round pick (16th overall in 1999) has averaged 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his NBA career. He averaged 11 points per contest in 2009-10 when he helped the Lakers to their latest NBA title and averaged 12.4 points in his last season with the team in 2012-13.
Los Angeles is coming into 2015-16 on the heels of finishing with a franchise-worst 21-61 record, and their offseason plans didn't fully come to fruition as they failed to lure top free agents. The Lakers were 27-55 the year prior and haven't made the playoffs in three seasons.
While nothing is official between World Peace and the Lakers, Los Angeles could be closing in on the former All-Star.
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