The Los Angeles Lakers needed to make a financial move. The team has almost zero financial flexibility and if they are going to get set up for a successful free agency run next season, they have to make some cuts. As of now, they can only offer players the veteran's minimum in salary, leaving their options pretty slim. As a result, the Orange County Register reports the Lakers will amnesty Metta World Peace.
Cutting MWP off the books could save the Lakers as high as $30 million. The 32-year-old was scheduled to earn $7.7 million in salary in the upcoming season, but that was too much for the Lakers to handle. Los Angeles will not miss MWP too much on the court. His play has declined in recent years. Last season he averaged just 12.4 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field. It is a not big hit in production and he can be replaced.
Kobe Bryant took to Twitter to express his displeasure in the release. Bryant noted there would be no Game 7 win without MWP and that it was a sad day for Laker Nation. MWP has recently decided to exercise a clause in his contract allowing him to remain with the Lakers for one more season, but now that does not matter.
The Lakers are now in need of a wing player after losing forward Earl Clark. Bryant is still recovering from injury and might not be ready to start the season. So far, the team has signed center Chris Kaman and are reportedly looking at bringing in Lamar Odom at a reduced salary.
With MWP out, Pau Gasol is not at risk of leaving any more. He was always the rumored player at risk of getting traded or cut. It is assumed that Gasol will now move from power forward to being a center, a position he is more comfortable in. MWP was going to be the main power forward but now the team would look towards possibly Jordan Hill to take over that role.
Gasol is set to make $19.3 million next season. The Lakers had over $70 million committed to contracts in 2013-14 so the MWP move was an absolute necessity. There was no way they would have used the clause on Bryant. Steve Blake or Gasol were the next best options.
