Kobe Bryant Twitter: Amnesty Metta World Peace a Bad Idea for Lakers
Once bitter foes on opposing teams, Kobe Bryant is now lobbying for teammate Metta World Peace to remain a Los Angeles Laker after reports surfaced that the team was planning to release the player, formerly known as Ron Artest, as part of its amnesty clause.
The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding first reported the news of Peace's departure via his Twitter account. The reporter said Lakers executives were looking for some financial relief and would start by shedding the power forward's salary.
"Sweet a guy as he is, @MettaWorldPeace will be waived via amnesty by Lakers to save about $30 million, barring some late change." Ding Tweeted yesterday evening.
Bryant caught wind of the report and a few hours after Ding's tweet he took to the social media site to defend his teammate, highlighting Peace's role in the Lakers past success.
"No game 7 win without Metta! This is a tough day for laker nation," Bryant tweeted with hashtags which expressed that he would miss Peace and his teammate was a victim of the league's collective bargaining agreement, which includes a clause that penalizes teams who spend more than the NBA's salary limits allow.
However, dispite Ding's claims, the Los Angeles Times' Eric Pinus reported the Lakers havent' finalized any plans to amnesty World Peace but if they did it would save the team "roughly $19 million," including his $7.7 million salary and luxury tax fines.
Still, Bryant expressed confidence in the Lakers current roster if it included Peace and a few additions via trades or free agency.
"Personally I'd keep Metta and make a run with the unit we have and just add a few pieces #keepthepeace #lakersstilldeciding," he wrote in a second tweet.
The Lakers superstar shooting guard also posted a Steve Jobs quote that expressed his obligation to make his teammates better.