The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty of issues to iron out over the summer, which includes figuring out how to get Dwight Howard to stay with the team for the long haul after all the drama they went through this past season.
One less player they have to concern themselves with is forward Metta World Peace, who has decided to stay put with the team for another season. Sam Amick of USA Today reported the details on Tuesday:
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the veteran small forward will play out the final year of his contract (worth $7.7 million) rather than exercise the early termination option on his deal. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the decision had not yet been made public.
World Peace had until Tuesday to make his decision, and the lack of clarity that surrounded him in Laker Land made his process all the more problematic. Lakers center and free-agent-to-be Dwight Howard has still not indicated whether he will re-sign or head elsewhere, and World Peace had considered opting out in order to become a free agent rather than take part in these unstable Lakers times.
Metta decided to address the matter on twitter the only way he knows how – with a sense of humor:
I’m very excited and happy the Lakers resigned me for one more year at $7.7million dollars. The first deal ever signed before July 1st!
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) June 27, 2013