With former Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace hitting the free agency market after being waived from the team, there are already reports that indicate that the New York Knicks may be eyeing the defensive enforcer for a possible signing for the upcoming season.
When asked during Thursday's summer-league practice about the team's interest if World Peace became available, Knicks coach Mike Woodson said: "[General manager] Glen [Grunwald] is coming up and we'll sit and talk more about him. We don't have to rush to do anything. The core group is intact that won 54 games last year. That player, or two, could slip through the cracks with amnesty or someone waived or bought out. It can happen. We got to sit patiently and wait and keep roster spots open to see if that may happen."
If nobody bids on the controversial 33-year-old small forward, he becomes an outright free agent available for the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million.
World Peace has shown interest in playing for the Knicks, according to his father, Ron Artest Sr., but also he doesn't want to uproot his family by going to another city. He told his father he especially has no interest in playing for a non-contender.
"My gut feels like if the Knicks want him now, my gut tells me it will happen,'' said Artest Sr., who runs his own kids foundation in New York City. "I haven't spoken to him yet tonight. I think he could be a prized possession for the Knicks. He wanted to play for the Knicks for so long, since childhood.''
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