Lakers Officially Amnesty Metta World Peace

Apr 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace (15) is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) at the Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Spurs 91-88. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers have officially waived Metta World Peace, via the amnesty provision.

The news has been brewing for days, as Sam Amick of USA Today already had a list of teams World Peace would like to play for, if he was indeed amnestied. And on the list, the San Antonio Spurs were fifth on World Peace’s list of teams he would like to play for:

According to a person with knowledge of World Peace’s situation, the list of teams that he would most like to play for starts with the New York Knicks and is followed in order by the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and the Indiana Pacers.

Metta World Peace averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds with the Lakers last year, in 34 minutes a game. The 33-year-old Queensbridge native will now have to go through the amnesty process. For those who have forgotten or are unfamiliar, teams under the cap can now bid for MWP’s services. If he clears that and no one bids, then World Peace is free to sign with any team of his choice.

Marc Stein of ESPN has a list of players and teams that can still use their amnesty, which is now down to 12 teams and 30 players.

And here is what Metta tweeted out as the news broke:

Mitch Called me first.. Thanks

— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) July 11, 2013

The New York Knicks currently look to be the favorites to land Metta World Peace.