NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers Looking to Sign Metta World Peace, Kobe Bryant Returns to Gym For Shooting Practice

By Komfie Manalo
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant posted his picture on Instagram showing he is back shooting. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers is trying to build a stronger roster for its championship campaign in the next season of the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the possible addition of veteran forward Metta World Peace, reported Yahoo Sports citing sources from the NBA league.

The report said negotiations are still ongoing between the Lakers team and representatives of World Peace and no definite agreement has been reached.

However, Lakers star Kobe Bryant is reported to be excited with the prospect of again playing with the 35-year-old, although some members of the NBA team have expressed mixed comments with the idea of bringing back Metta World to the team.

World Peace played an important role for the Lakers championship in 2010. The controversial player played four season with the Lakers team from 2009-13 before he was amnestied after the 2012-13 season.

World Peace has not played in any NBA team since the New York Knicks waived him during the 2013-14 season. However, the small forward has played in China and Italy in the last season.

Metta World was seen joining the Los Angeles Lakers practice during the offseason and played against the team's players, including 2014 first-round pick Julius Randle. The re-entry of World Peace into the Lakers roster will be a great boost to the NBA team which is struggling to have a legitimate small forward player.

World Peace has played with at least six NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Lakers and Knicks and was averaging 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals during his 15-year professional basketball career.

Kobe Bryant Begins Shooting After Surgery

Bryant was mostly sidelined during the last NBA season after his third consecutive season-ending injury, this time it was a torn rotator cuff. He had surgery in January to correct the issue, but has been unable to take the court since for the Los Angeles Lakers, reported Lakers Nation.

Bryant posted a picture on his Instagram account showing him in the gym doing some practice shooting, for the first time since his surgery. He wrote, "kobebryant First day back on the court shooting! Bout damn time!!"

News of Kobe hitting the gym again is great news for the loyal Lakers fan hoping that the NBA star returns to his old form for his 20th and rumored final season in the NBA and with the Lakers, and hopefully, this will be capped with another championship ring.

However, some experts are still doubtful if Kobe will be healthy enough to start for the Lakers' season opener game on October 28 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some estimates predicted that Kobe needs at least nine months to fully recover from his latest injury.

But knowing Bryant, he will not wait that long to be playing on the court.

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