The Laker formely known as Ron Artest might get his chance to return to the National Basketball Association.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports claims that Metta World Peace, or "Panda's Friend" is getting seriously considered for a roster spot with the team that he won an NBA Championship with in 2010.

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He stated on Twitter that "Lakers are seriously considering signing free agent Metta World Peace, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. For now, there's no deal in place."

World Peace hasn't played in the NBA since February 2014, when he was a member of the New York Knicks, who are currently ran by former Laker coach Phil Jackson. Metta  averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 29 games with the Knicks.

Since his stint with the Knicks, Metta has played in both China and Italy. He signed with the Scihuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association in August 4, 2014 and was replaced by Daniel Orton on December 2014. World Peace averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in 15 games with the Blue Whales. On March 2015 he signed with the Italian Pallacanestro Cantu of Lega Basketball Serie A in the 2014-2015 season. His season with the team culminated with a game in which he was involved in an in-game skirmish. World Peace was ejected from that game.

Since World Peace was amnestied by the Lakers in 2013, the team hasn't been doing so well. The Lakers have not made the playoffs since 2013, when they were swept by the eventual champions the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. That team has more or less fallen apart, with only Kobe Bryant and Robert Sacre the remaining members left from that 2013 team. 

The Lakers hope that adding World Peace will improve the abysmal defense the Lakers currently have. While he has been on the decline for the past few seasons, adding him to the Lakers would not affect their season much, if at all. 

 

Tags NBA news, NBA rumors, Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace