Raja Bell Clotheslines Kobe One Last Time

Raja Bell and the Jazz have agreed to terms on a 3 year deal worth nearly $10 million, prompting Bell to cancel his sit-down in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant that had been scheduled for Wednesday night.

I personally find this hilarious. ESPN had been making a big deal that Kobe and Bell had buried the hatchet, and that Kobe really wanted him on the Lakers. Well, I don't believe for a second that Bell likes Kobe anymore then he did a couple years ago when he clotheslined Kobe in the playoffs and then called him "pompous, arrogant individual" who gets preferential treatment from the refs...hilarious!

Anyways, not a bad signing for the Jazz who are piecing together a decent team after it looked like it was going to be a terrible offseason losing Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver. Now they have turned around and traded for Al Jefferson (who could be real good if he stays healthy and with Williams at PG), and Raja Bell.

Stephen Jackson Traded To Bobcats

"Disgruntled Golden State Warriors forward Stephen Jackson is about to make a fresh start with a new team. The Warriors completed a deal Monday that sends Jackson and guard Acie Law to the Bobcats in exchange for veteran swingmen Raja Bell and Vladimir Radmanovic. The trade will be announced Monday (ESPN)."

Stephen Jackson is a shithead, but I am still really happy the Cavs didn't land him. He can still score, and the Cavs have enough talent as it is. Jackson is a guy who can average about 20 points per game 5 boards and 5-6 assists. If he could ever just stop being such a thug he might really help the Bobcats. With this trade the Bobcats actually have a solid starting 5...

PG - Raymond Felton
SG - Steven Jackson (even though listed as SF)
SF - Gerald Wallace
PF - Boris Diaw
C - Tyson Chandler

Not to mention guys like D.J. Augustin, and Acie Law on the bench.

Raja Bell Out For The Season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats starting shooting guard Raja Bell has a partially torn ligament in his left wrist and will soon decide whether to have surgery which would sideline him up to four months.

The severity of Bell's injury, announced after he sat out Charlotte's 94-87 exhibition win over Milwaukee on Tuesday, is a major blow for the Bobcats, who could be without their best defensive player and team leader.

Bell was injured when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried to grab a loose ball in Sunday's game against Utah. ESPN

The only reason this is relevant is due to the Celtics maybe working a trade for the defensive guru. I'm a big fan of Raja and he is not needed on the Bobcats, so the Bobcats are most likely going to deal him at some point this year. I believe T.A., Giddens or Walker and second round pick would probably do it.

J-Rich Traded To Suns

The Phoenix Suns have completed a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats to acquire high-scoring swingman Jason Richardson, according to NBA front-office sources.
The multiplayer deal will require the Suns to part with forward Boris Diaw and defensive ace Raja Bell, two mainstays from the team that averaged 58 wins over the last four seasons under former Suns coach Mike D'Antoni.
The Suns will also receive a future second-round pick from the Bobcats and forward Jared Dudley while sending Sean Singletary to the Bobcats.

This is an awesome deal for the Suns and for the Bobcats. The Suns needed another scorer and J-Rich will take that place, while Jarod Dudley will do all the dirty work. As for the Bobcats they get two good players in defensive specialist Raja Bell and wildcard Boris Diaw. This will help the Suns a lot more than the Bobcats I believe because Richardson can take the Joe Johnson role on this Suns team, but Bell's defensive presence will be missed.