The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 17 players and need to cut two of them as the NBA only allows a maximum of 15 players on a team's roster. The ones considered to possibly be let go are Nick Young, Yi Jianlian, Thomas Robinson, Anthony Brown and Metta World Peace. With the new season starting next week, the coaching staff must decide soon.

Among the five players on the bubble, the toughest call they'll have to make is on Metta World Peace. The 36-year-old is well past his prime and may not be able to contribute much on the court but his locker room presence and leadership is what makes him valuable to the team. Given that the Lakers are now in a rebuilding mode following the retirement of Kobe Bryant, it makes World Peace even more important to them as he can mentor their young players. What Luke Walton and company needs to figure out is if it's worth giving up a roster spot for him or not.

Another possible solution the Lakers can make is to keep him, but in a different role. Per Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN:

“The odds are against Metta World Peace making the Los Angeles Lakers' Opening Night roster, but the Lakers have interest in keeping the veteran forward around as an assistant coach if they can't make room for him as an active player, according to league sources.”

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
Byron Scott during the Jerry Colangelo Golf Classic on September 13, 2024.
Former Laker Byron Scott reveals Kobe Bryant’s ‘most gangster s**t’ everMiguel La Torre ·
Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the women’s singles final against Aryna Sabalenka on day 14 at Roland Garros Stadium.
LeBron James erupts with huge reaction to Coco Gauff’s French Open winLorenzo J Reyna ·
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers
How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander draws ‘influence’ from Kobe BryantTomer Azarly ·
LeBron James, Stephen (Steph) Curry, who may be heading to an ESPN NBA broadcasting booth after they retire, after Lakers-Warriors game on December 25, 2024.
ESPN has ‘hopeful’ LeBron James, Stephen Curry wishAndrew Korpan ·
Chris Paul rescinded NBA trade Lakers Hornets
Chris Paul shuts down Hornets-Lakers trade conspiracyJulian Ojeda ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic’s offseason body transformation has Lakers fans hypedJedd Pagaduan ·

Making World Peace an assistant coach will definitely solve the dilemma. The only issue with it is that he is not ready to hang up his sneakers yet and plans to play for three more seasons.

The situation with the Lakers and the player formerly known as Ron Artest is definitely something worth monitoring in the next few days. Should the team hire him as an assistant coach, it will all boil down to World Peace accepting it or not. If he wants to continue playing, he'll need to find a team that will sign him in the NBA or bring his talents again overseas like what he did three years ago when he played in China.