SCOTT JACOBS

It only seemed like a matter of time before volatile forward Ron Artest got his wish, and was dealt. But of all the teams previously mentioned (Lakers, Heat, Nuggets), not once do I remember the Rockets coming up. Yet, the Artest Sweepstakes appear to be over, and lo and behold, it’s Houston (christened as the number three seed in our tournament of losers) that has won his services.

Rumors had run rampant about a Lamar Odom-Ron Artest straight up swap for months, but what Houston had to give up for the sport’s greatest enigma, well, it’s kind of dumb-founding. A first round pick, Bobby Jackson, the rights to rookie Donte Greene, and cash? That’s what it took to land one of the most talented, coveted nut-jobs in the NBA? A reserve, a decent rookie, and a 2009 first round pick that won’t be worth anything once the Rockets inevitably make the playoffs again.

Artest averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in 57 games last year for the 38-44 Kings, who have officially transitioned from “well we’re trying, but we’re realists” to “we can’t compete in the west with this lineup, let’s just start over.”

And start over they have done.

In three years with the Kings, Artest’s scoring average rose every year. The Rockets hope that he’ll put his past behind him, and they’re willing to take a chance to pair him up with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. That will be once heck of a trifecta playing at the Toyota Center 41 times a year.

Of course, the question with Artest is if he actually does make his teams BETTER. The Kings never made it past the first round with him, and his time in Indiana with some fantastic Pacers teams, never ended in an Eastern Conference title, never mind a championship.

Artest is a fiery competitor with long arms and is a top notch defender. He isn’t a ball hog and he’s a solid passer. But as always it comes down to attitude. His attitude has always been his defining question mark.

Suspended for 73 games during the 2004-05 season because he went into the stands in an unforgettable brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Artest was then further scrutinized when he asked for time off so he could promote his album.

Team-mates have said in the past they never fully understood Artest, and he always came across as weird.

Now, Houston will bank on that same man to help them get out of the first round.

McGrady, who was dealt to the Rockets before Artest’s fateful 2004-05 season, has failed to create the dynamic pairing with Yao Ming that Rockets fans hoped would net them a championship. Now that Artest is in the fold, McGrady will have his best team yet. Of course staying healthy is another question mark, as T-Mac and Yao have been bitten by the injury bug in years past, but if the two can stay healthy, and Artest can stay out of trouble the Rockets could be really, really good.

It’s not quite Boston’s Big Three, but Houston’s new trifecta is loaded with talent, and now expectations.

The only question now is: Are they ready for lift-off?

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SCOTT JACOBS

Elton Brand opted out of his contract on Monday, giving him the freedom to parade his services around the league like Paris Hilton does at high function parties. But as soon as he broke the bond between very good player and unbelievably awful team, Brand said something few ever say. Unless they get paid. Like a lot.

“It definitely doesn’t mean I’m leaving the Clippers,” said Brand. “We’re trying to work it out. My intention is to stay.”

No one wants to be a Clipper. Not really good players. Except Brand for some reason. He seems happy living in LA, and living the oblivious life, while of course getting paid handsomely. Well, he has a reason to stay. A $65 million blur that would sure make a nice little sidekick.

Baron Davis is a Clipper. Yup, it’s true. Don’t scratch your eyes, don’t search for a stronger prescription, everything you’re reading is true. Davis, who brought back the run till you drop Warriors from irrelevant and boring, to exciting and high scoring, is taking his crazy beard to Hollywood. To play for the Clippers.

How ironic. Just two days before July 4th, an American signs for ludicrous money with a rich pro team that wears red, white, and blue. Now I remember why we celebrate our independence!

But this is big. No huge. No, no, I’m not claiming the Clippers are next in line to get to the Finals. No, that’s not it at all. Instead, the Clippers might actually be, uh, how do you put this without sounding crazy? O yeah, good. Yeah, the word least associated with anything about LA’s other team can finally be applied. If of course Brand stays true to his word, and does re-ink with the team he’s flourished with.

Merely less then a week after celebrating their Clipperization of the lottery, aka: 20 draft picks in the lottery since they instituted the thing not too long ago, the LA Clippers, the team named from a boat, is about to land the most intriguing fish in the free agent sea.

29 year old Baron Davis.

Like everything, there is a risk with the signing. Davis’ health. Why else would New Orleans have traded him a few years ago. He was a dynamite player then, but just could not stay healthy. Nowadays, he’s still a very good player, and he helped the Warriors pull off one of the most fun upsets in NBA Playoff history, when they took down the 1 seed Mavs in 2007.

So what are the Warriors thinking? Well, they’re probably pretty shocked. It’s like a guy breaking up with a pregnant Jessica Alba to be with Kristy Allen. Unexpected, but hey, crazier things have happened.

He’s fast, he’s gritty, he’s not afraid of anyone, and he has a handle on the rock like few else in the league. Once lighting quick, Davis is still quick on his feet and a relentless force on the court. He’s a leader and a fighter, and he doesn’t back down from nobody. He’s EXACTLY what the Clippers have lacked for… o who are we kidding, forever.

Sam Cassell was that guy, to a much lesser extent. But he was old, pricey, and declining. Davis hasn’t even galloped to 30 yet. And if he can stay healthy, no one will care that he’s getting 13 million dollars a year to make the Clips relevant.

Davis, you might remember put the final nail in the coffin for why the league needed instant replay, when in a playoff game years back against the Magic, he threw up a prayer 3 pointer that went in before time expired, before the refs decided he didn’t get it off in time.

Now he’s got a chance to do something bigger. Fit a square peg in a round hole. The Clippers had their one surprise season back in 2006 when they took the Phoenix Suns to a seventh game in the second round. But this move gives them a chance, dare I say it, to be consistent.

The west is loaded. No one’s denying that. No one’s pushing the Lakers off of their Hollywood throne, not after they became very relevant again. But this move is big. The Clippers haven’t been this interesting since they tried prying Kobe from the Lakers.

This time, they actually succeeded in landing their man. And Davis, make no mistake about it, still has a lot in the tank. The former UCLA standout averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game last year, but more importantly: he played all 82 games.

Imagine: a healthy Davis with Brand, Al Thornton, and Chris Kaman (aka: the guy who everybody thinks is a real caveman) and all of a sudden the Clips look pretty good. In fact, after a dreadful season in which everyone got hurt, and Cassell got bought out, LA looked doomed to another decade of laughs and giggles (at their expense of course).

But this changes that.

This changes the west, where 9 very good teams, becomes potentially 10? Maybe 11? At least on paper at least. The Clips, with a healthy and re-signed Brand will have a very nice mix with two big men down low, and a young guy in Thornton who knows how to put the ball in the hole.

So what are the Warriors thinking? Well, they’re probably pretty shocked. It’s like a guy breaking up with a pregnant Jessica Alba to be with Kristy Allen. Unexpected, but hey, crazier things have happened.

But Golden State isn’t exactly frozen in their footsteps. Immediately after losing the face of their revived franchise, G-State offered Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas a max deal. Wow, imagine that: you replace one injury prone star with another younger injury prone star. I guess the Warriors wouldn’t exactly complain if Arenas bolted for the rowdiest fans in the NBA and Oracle Arena.

Maybe this supposedly dull off-season that was envisioned won’t be so dull after all.

In fact, this is exciting stuff. Though it will be sad to see the pilot of Golden State’s lightning quick attack bolting across the state, it will be very interesting to see how Davis does with the NBA’s so called cursed franchise.

And if his replacement is indeed Arenas, then I’d say the NBA’s Pacific Division just became the most intriguing division in the league.

Think about the story lines for 2008-09, months before tip-off.

*How will Kobe and the Lakers do with a healthy Andrew Bynum joining the fray?
*How will the Suns respond with an entire season and off season to integrate Shaq into the mix?
*What will the Kings do, now that Ron Artest regrets not opting out of deal?
*How good can the Clippers be with Davis and Brand in the fold?
*What will Golden State (with six key free agents still) look like come opening night?

That’s just one division.

Thanks Clippers. You may not win a championship with Brand. But you just won back my respect. And let’s face it, love him or hate him, you can’t help but respect what Davis brings to the table every time he takes the floor.

As far as the NBA goes, we could use a lot more guys like him.

Now the Clippers have him!

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