ARTEST IN HOLLYWOOD: is it worth it?

The newly-crowned NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers' recent acquisition of Ron Artest from the Houston Rockets certainly raised eyebrows from some diehard LA fans. Obviously, the global recession is affecting even the greatest basketball show on the planet. While some NBA teams are shipping out players who are economically hard to keep, for cash considerations, some are making their moves to stay on top, to get back on top, or make it to the top.

The Lakers got the defensive specialist Ron Artest through a trade that sent Trevor Ariza to the trying-to-be resurgent Rockets. Ariza, a vital part of the Lakers who made a successful run to the throne, will almost be assured of a starter role in Houston, especially now that Yao Ming's health, and career,in peril - not to mention Tracy MacGrady's injury-plagued stint with the Rockets. But the question now will focus with the Lakers roster. Of course, given his superstar stature, Artest will surely be given by Phil Jackson a starter position. But will he fit into the system? That remains to be seen. As we know, Artest main arsenal is his potent defense. Time and again, he was used to slow down scoring machines from the opposing teams. And he had been quite successful with that role. Having been able to effectively guard today's breed af new generation superstar, Artest will surely be a defensive gem for the Lakers. And on the offensive end - that's even a bonus. Artest offense has been proven as early as his days with the Indiana Pacers, during their post-Reggie Miller era. So from this standpoint, it seems that the Lakers got the bigger end of the bargain.

But what is essential to basketball may be more than what the eyes can see. Not so many years ago, the Lakers got a dynamic duo with

Kobe Bryant teaming up with Shaquille O'neal to form the NBA's most fearsome one-two punch that time. The Lakers was quite successful at first - being able to romp three straight championship using these two stars and their Jackson-induced triangle offense. But human nature caught up with Kobe and Shaq. With the dilemna of who really is the focal point of the team, the Lakers got into a political turmoil that saw the organizational chart tear apart.

As a cliche goes - why fix someting that is not broken? The Lakers was able to hoist the trophy with Ariza in their lineup. Why let him go in exchange for someone who, with his larger-than-life ego, got himself tangled with numerous behavioral issues.

To be fair with the Lakers' fans and with Ron Artest, the answer still remains to be seen. It's now up to Phil how he is going to maximize Artest given his taller-than-the-tallest-mountain attitude. If Kobe and company- Fisher, Odom, Gasol, and Bynum- would be able to mix it up with Artest, people in Lakerland are in for another show.