Metta World Peace picks Lakers to win West

Published Sep. 19, 2013 2:54 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Lakers come into the 2013-14 season with many, many questions.

Kobe Bryant is still recovering from a torn Achilles' tendon. Pau Gasol just started basketball drills over after procedures on both knees.

Few pundits have the Lakers as a true contender in the Western Conference.

Of course that doesn't matter to former Lakers forward Metta World Peace, who was waived by the franchise in July.

"I think the Lakers are going to the NBA Finals," said World Peace at a book signing in Manhattan, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.

World Peace, who recently published a children's book entitled, "Metta's Bedtime Stories," signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent.

"I think Kobe's gonna be healthy. They're gonna get Pau. The Lakers are gonna make a big trade like they always do," said World Peace. "They're gonna get another good player, boom, boom and they're gonna go to the Finals. I believe it. Kobe's gonna come back, he's gonna play team ball, and Pau's gonna play well."

The Lakers appear to be approaching the summer of 2014 as their best opportunity to add talent, opening up cap space.

Perhaps a midseason trade, as suggested by World Peace, will be the answer -- but then his take seemingly comes from out of left field.

The Lakers may have a strong season, if healthy. Expecting a trip to the NBA Finals, or a major player acquisition through trade, is more than a bit presumptive.

--Eric Pincus