Lakers Trade Rumors: L.A. Shopping Metta World Peace for 1st-Round Draft Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to get back into the first round of the 2012 NBA draft, and Metta World Peace just may be their ticket in.

According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio:

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The Lakers are exploring all kinds of potential deals, having floated every name on the roster this side of Kobe Bryant. They are said to be open to trading Metta World Peace for a late first-rounder, with their eyes on Baylor forward Quincy Miller and Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague.

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L.A. sent its first-round selection to Cleveland (which turned out to be No. 24) at the trade deadline in exchange for point guard Ramon Sessions. Sessions has opted out of his contract and will be a free agent this summer, so they essentially rented the mediocre point guard at a high cost.

In an effort to re-tool the roster, and perhaps suffering from buyer’s remorse, GM Mitch Kupchak is wisely trying to dump the player formerly known as Ron Artest and his egregious salary figure.

World Peace is due approximately $7.3 million next year and has a player option for $7.7 million in 2013-14. After putting up just 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in a disappointing 2011-12 season, there has been plenty of talk of the Lakers using their amnesty clause on the colorful small forward to get him off the books.

However, the 32-year-old may still have something in the tank and could be the veteran piece that a team with a late first-rounder is looking for. Either way, Kupchak obviously must make an attempt to trade MWP, as his team would be able to clear cap space and have a shot at acquiring a productive young player with the pick in return.

While it’s highly unlikely they find any serious suitors, the Lakers are at the least trying to get better by making some noise this offseason.