LAS VEGAS Metta World Peace says he wants to continue his playing career in China or try his hand at coaching and if those don t work there is always Arena Football.
The one thing World Peace claims he doesn t want to do is play in the NBA which would end the idea of the player formerly known as Ron Artest returning home to play for the Knicks. Of course all of World Peace s comments should come with a warning label. Believe him at your own risk because there is no telling what World Peace is really thinking.
I don t really want to play for anybody World Peace told reporters on Friday at the Lakers practice facility in California. I don t want to go anywhere. I want to go to China or coach or play Arena Football.
When asked specifically about the Knicks who famously passed him over (for Frederic Weis) in the 1999 NBA draft World Peace added I had a chance to play in New York. I wanted to play in New York when I was in my prime and I was young fierce a lock down (defender). Madison Square Garden that would have been sick. But right now China is way more adventurous for me.
There are conflicting stories concerning the Knicks interest in the 33 year old forward from Queensbridge. A person familiar with the club s thinking says that the front office is more focused on adding another big man and a point guard. There were internal discussions regarding World Peace last week when rumors surfaced that he might become an amnesty casualty but the Knicks brain trust did not reach a conclusion about whether to pursue him.
The Lakers waived World Peace on Thursday under the NBA s amnesty provision which will save them about $15 million in luxury tax. He was set to earn $7.7 million next season which the Lakers still must pay.
Under amnesty rules teams with cap room have until 5 p.m. Sunday to place a bid on World Peace. If there are no bids he becomes a free agent and could sign a deal with the Knicks as early as Sunday night. I could see it working with a team like Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs or maybe Miami says an NBA player who knows World Peace. But I don t know how things will work out with him back in New York.
World Peace revealed that he has spoken to his former Rockets teammate Yao Ming about joining Yao s Chinese team the Shanghai Sharks. You don t live twice World Peace said. You re not 33 twice. You won t be able to play in China at a good level again. I wouldn t be able to play in China again averaging maybe 40 or more points. That would be fun.
HITS AND MISSES First round pick Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a team high 13 points but went 4 for 12 overall and 1 for 6 on three pointers in the Knicks 79 72 loss to the Pelicans in the Summer League opener for both clubs. Iman Shumpert getting a look at point guard went 0 for 5 with four turnovers.
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