Ron Artest Sr. Wants Son, Metta World Peace, To Finish His Career In N.Y.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- If current Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest Jr.) is waived today via the NBA's amnesty rule, teams will be allowed to bid on his contract. His father, Ron Artest Sr., is hoping that the Knicks jump on this opportunity if it arises.
According to a report from the Orange County Register, the Lakers intend to waive World Peace, but Kobe Bryant disagreed on Twitter, saying that Los Angeles should keep him and go for another championship with their core roster.
The 2010 NBA Finals champion is scheduled to make $7.7 million next year, so the Lakers are looking to free up some cap space.
"He wants to stay with the Lakers for a couple of more years, but if not, he wants to finish his career in New York if he can," Artest Sr. told the New York Post early Tuesday morning.
However, Artest Sr. updated the newspaper, saying that his son could retire if he is not brought back to the Lakers' roster, for fear of playing for "a team like Milwaukee or Minnesota."
Once a player is waived, the amnesty provision allows teams to bid on the player's remaining contract. The team with the highest bid is awarded the contract, but if multiple teams place the same bid, the team with the worst record in the previous season is awarded the contract.
That being said, it is still a dream for Artest Sr. to see his son come home and play in New York.
"Let's hope and pray it happens," Artest Sr. told the New York Post.
World Peace, a Queens native who played for two years at St. John's, would mostly likely seek a veteran contract worth $1.4 million. The Knicks could undoubtedly use a defensive small forward, but they would not get the first bid on World Peace, seeing that under the amnesty provision, teams who are under the salary cap are given priority to bid on waived players.
But there's no harm in trying to surround Carmelo Anthony with former championship winners.
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