Lakers Trade Rumors: Is Metta World Peace on the Brink of Being Traded?

Metta World Peace is unhappy yet again. The basketball star formerly known as Ron Artest has started the last nine games in Lakerland, but he is averaging a career-low 22.3 minutes per game under new coach Mike Brown.

Ironically enough, Brown is a defensive-minded coach, which, one would think, gives MWP an advantage, but that is not the case.

As he puts it, Brown is too obsessed with stats (via CBS Sports):

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I'm trying to win. And right now, coach is a stats guy. His background is video coordinator or whatever. So he's all stats. But Ron Artest is all feel. He doesn't understand that. Having me in the game at the end, he was worried about me shooting bad from the free throw line. And I was like, 'I could care less because I'm gonna get a stop at the end of the game.' He didn't understand the rhythm that we had -- me, Fish [Derek Fisher], Kobe [Bryant], Pau [Gasol] and Drew [Andrew Bynum]. I've been through games where I would have two points, go 1 for 9 and we'd win. That's what matters. Stats are for people who need stats.

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FOXSportsWest.com is reporting that World Peace isn't of sound mind right now either and that coach Brown isn't scared of making a move:

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World Peace is "walking around all crazy-like. We're just waiting for him to go off," one Lakers player recently told FOXSportsWest.com, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

What's more, a source close to the team told FOXSportsWest.com that Brown wouldn't be averse to trading World Peace — not necessarily because of a personality clash but simply because he hasn't played well.

And that would make some of his teammates happy.

"There are a lot of guys in here who'd just like to see him gone," one player told FOXSportsWest.com on the condition of anonymity. "I think we'd definitely be a better team if everyone didn't have to walk on eggshells when he's around."

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World Peace isn't happy, his teammates aren't happy and coach Brown has quite a mess on his hands. Will it force either party—coach Brown or World Peace—to step up and make a move?

We've seen cases of Artest losing patience before, and with Brown reportedly unhappy as well, anything is possible.

The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and we know the Lakers have a major need for point guard. Artest isn't necessarily a big trade chip, but sending him away may help loosen things up around the Staples Center.

He could truly lose it and demand a trade sooner than later as well. There is only so much World Peace will tolerate when it comes to his minutes. And, on top of that, the Lakers aren't that good and cannot afford to have a liability on the court.

Things can blow up any time with Metta World Peace, so don't be surprised if this isn't the last we hear on his potential departure.