I only used the above image of Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest showing off his new jersey because I still can’t believe that a grown man changed his name to Metta World Peace. But hey, he’s the millionaire and if I ever gain similar wealth, I already know that I’ll change my name to Poops Stinkerson and wear only diapers when I go out drinking. That’s the American dream, right?
As for Artest’s team, well the Lakers aren’t showing off the other new jerseys they thought they’d have by now. And they want everyone to know that they won’t be pushed around by these small market bullies anymore either. Not only did the Lakers pull out of their three-way trade with New Orleans and Houston, but now they’re telling teams that they’re not going to give up all of their average players just to get their measly superstars in return.
… and believe they can acquire a new third big man to play behind Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. That is the challenge for Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss on the front-burner, while still simmering is their desire to have Dwight Howard from Orlando.
I’m told the Lakers will not be trading Bynum and Gasol for Howard.
(Via The OC Register)
I’m actually impressed by this fakery, or at least my wacky perception of it. Ideally, the Lakers know that Dwight Howard and Chris Paul want out of their current sucky teams and Podunk cities. They know that these mega stars want to play in L.A. So why the hell should they even flinch when Orlando suddenly says, “Well we decided that we’ll trade him, but we want the guy you’re about to trade to Houston”?
This is why the Lakers will always win. It sucks and it’s unfair, and maybe I live in a fantasy world in which I believe that one day stars will be loyal, but at least now I’m accepting it. In the meantime, Dwight Howard hilariously admitted that he wanted to be more involved with the Magic’s terrible player decisions over the last 5 years, and he will probably get his wish when he tells the Lakers, “F*ck ‘em, send Luke Walton.”
(H/T to Pro Basketball Talk)
