Los Angeles Lakers

Report: Lakers guarantee contracts of World Peace, Black and Huertas

Published Jan. 7, 2016 7:00 p.m. ET

Jovan Buha

The Los Angeles Lakers officially guaranteed the contracts of forward Metta World Peace, center Tarik Black and guard Marcelo Huertas on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Thursday, Jan. 7 marked the deadline to waive players with non-guaranteed deals. As a result, the Lakers remain at the league maximum of a 15-player roster.

World Peace, 36, is making $947,000 this season. He has only played in 18 of the team's 36 games, posting averages of 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game. Despite his unimpressive play, the Lakers value World Peace's veteran presence and relationship with Julius Randle.

Black, 24, is is making $845,000 this season. He has put up 3.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game, bouncing around between the end of the Lakers' bench -- he's only played in 9 games -- and the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ D-League affiliate.

After flashing some potential in the preseason, Huertas, a 32-year-old rookie, has struggled to find a consistent role or playing time, averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 assists in 12.6 minutes per game (he's only played in 20 games). He is earning $525,000 this year.