According to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Lakers will use their one-time use amnesty clause on small forward Metta World Peace, saving them $30 million -- and probably a bunch of headaches:https://twitter.com/KevinDing/status/354377245772615681
World Peace was a key player in the Lakers first-round exit to the San Antonio Spurs. He was one of the only players that came up to play after the devastating loss of shooting guard Kobe Bryant (torn Achilles tendon). During the season, World Peace averaged about 12 points and five rebounds per game.
While I'm sure the Lakers would've liked to keep World Peace, his salary took up too much cap space. Even if World Peace did perform up to his contract, his emotions could get the best of him, causing plenty of bad press for the team.
World Peace was instrumental in the Lakers last championship run. He made a key layup in a Game 7 for the Lakers to keep them alive. The team would go on to win the Larry O'Brien trophy that year.
Bryant knew the importance of World Peace on the team. He took to Twitter to rant about the amnesty:
https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/354416184197783552
https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/354425519703457792
While World Peace had his high points with the Lakers, he definitely had his low points. On April 23, 2012 in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, World Peace dunked, and on his way back, elbowed Thunder shooting guard James Harden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf8pgbA-ad4
World Peace claimed that the elbow was intentional and that he was simply celebrating. The referees didn't agree with him, and he was promptly ejected. Harden was diagnosed with a concussion.
The amnesty opens up many possible paths for Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to take the team on.
Not only will the amnesty provide salary cap relief this year, but also next summer in which the Lakers are rumored to be targeting New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony and Miami Heat small forward LeBron James. Both players will be free agents in 2014.
