Los Angeles Lakers

Metta World Peace says he's leaving Lakers, and Nick Young may be right behind him

Published Apr. 14, 2017 4:10 p.m. ET

Andre Vergara

Lakers fans may be saying goodbye to Metta World Peace and Swaggy P, fan favorites and two of the biggest characters in franchise history.

The Lakers held their exit interviews Thursday, and World Peace said Magic Johnson told him the Lakers won't bring him back next season while Nick Young said he wants to "get on a playoff team and see what happens."

https://twitter.com/shahanLA/status/852573677493170177

Young, who has a $5.6 million player option for next season, told reporters he's "60/40" on whether he will exercise it — though he said the Lakers were "begging me to pretty much stay" and joked that they signed him to a $150 million lifetime contract "under the table".

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World Peace hasn't played much this season but has been a valuable veteran to teach the young Lakers, and while the 37-year-old told reporters he'll likely try to play elsewhere next season, he could be a good future fit for Lakers coach Luke Walton's staff.

https://twitter.com/LakersReporter/status/852659486162432000

https://twitter.com/LindseyThiry/status/852659314439344129

Metta got mobbed by teammates after scoring a season-high 18 points as the Lakers won their home finale this week — the last of many memorable moments in his six-year Lakers career, which included winning a championship in 2010.

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Young hasn't helped the Lakers win a title during four seasons in LA, but has been endlessly entertaining.

https://twitter.com/JQuasto/status/852606754319773696

https://twitter.com/NickSwagyPYoung/status/852665933927665664