As we Laker fans begin to ponder Los Angeles' acquisition of Ron Artest at the expense of Trevor Ariza, a sense of dread came over me.
Not that the roster shakeup is necessary a bad one, but that now I'm a full-fledged fan of the NBA Villain.
The Lakers now are the Evil Empire. They're Darth Vader, Lex Luthor, Dr. Evil and Rush Limbaugh rolled into one purple basketball mass -- the team the NBA will love to hate.
Most people outside L.A. and Laker fandom have a considerable dislike for Kobe Bryant. Even with his renaissance this season as a world champion.
The rape allegations. The feud with Shaquille O'Neal, with many people believing an arrogant and selfish Bryant drove O'Neal out of town and coach Phil Jackson into retirement in 2004.
The outburst in the summer of 2007 when Laker general manager Mitch Kupchak wouldn't trade Andrew Bynum to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal.
He's already one of the NBA's most hated, probably in class only with ...
Artest. Who can forget the incident in Auburn Hills, Mich.,in November, 2004? Artest, then a member of the Indiana Pacers, was shoved by then Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace that sparked a bench-clearing brawl that escalated into the stands. Artest, lying down on the scorer's table, became enraged when a fan threw a drink on him. He went into the stands looking fo the fan and started throwing punches. He also punched Pistons fans who came onto the court later on.
At the time, I thought Artest should've been thrown out of the league. Now, he's on my most cherished professional sports team.
The same guy that went after Kobe in these last playoffs during the Lakers-Rockets Western Conference semfinal series and told him, "You've got to relax. You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"
Like most Laker fans, my initial thoughts among the gain of Artest and the loss of Ariza was, "Excuse me, Mr. General Manager Mitch Kupchak, but what the four-letter expletive were you thinking?"
Why trade a young, promising player that was instrumental in L.A.'s title run last season for a cancer five years his senior?
But as I began to look at it logically, Artest's age (29) really isn't a factor because he'll still be in his prime during the Lakers' current bid for a dynasty. Kobe is a year older, and the dynasty rests on his shoulders.
The transition to a next possible dynasty rests on Bynum's big shoulders, though Ariza would've been a key contributor in said transition.
On July 2, 2009, Artest still is a better basketball player than Ariza, though the matchup is close. What the Lakers are doing is trying to ensure this dynasty, which is already in motion, rather than try to keep the pieces for a dynasty in the future and much more in the air.
I don't know if I like that rationale, but I understand it. Besides, if coach Phil Jackson was able to handle Dennis Rodman and win titles with him, I'm sure he can control Artest and do the same.
Unless Jackson doesn't come back next season. That means Kurt Rambis, who also once coached Rodman in L.A. without any of the success Jackson had, could be in charge of Artest.
Uh oh.
Assuredly, part of my hesitation to embrace the change was my growing appreciating for Ariza, who transformed from an injured defensive stalwart to a high-energy, offensive and defensive weapon who made momentum-changing plays on both ends of the court.
My heart sank at the original report that the Cleveland Cavaliers were interested in Ariza. His presence there would've moved the Cavs, LeBron James and Shaq closer to the Lakers.
The Rockets, I don't think so, especially if Yao Ming's foot injury is as bad as reported this week. He may miss this season, and the injury could be career-threatening.
I think Ariza had a better chance to develop with the Lakers because he wouldn't have the pressure of trying to carry the team with Black Mamba around. At Houston, the Rockets will ask more of Ariza offensively, and they don't have a Kobe Bryant to lure defenders away from him.
True, Houston does have Tracy McGrady, but his health is a major concern.
The other unappealing aspect of the "trade" is that now I have to root for someone I used to hate.
Is that hypocritical on my part? Sure is, but I can't not root for the Lakers.
Now, I just have to convince myself that pulling for the completion of a fully functional Death Star doesn't necessarily make me a bad person.
Though I know it won't help.
Keywords: Andrew Bynum, Ben Wallace, Darth Vader, Dennis Rodman, Dr. Evil, Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant, Kurt Rambis, LeBron James, Lex Luthor, Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Ron Artest, Rush Limbaugh, Tracy McGrady, Trevor Ariza, Yao Ming
