I like Raja Bell. He’s a class act. In the nice prissy froo froo world where all is fair in life, Raja would have been rewarded for playing through his pain for Charlotte. He didn’t just postpone surgery and play in pain, although that would have earned him major props and respect in itself. He risked even further damage – potentially permanent – every time he stepped on the court. He also risked greatly reducing his value to any team because a bum wrist means reduced efficiency and his stats for this season wouldn’t even come close to reflecting what they would have been had he been healthy. He’s a stand up guy, and where I come from that’s very high praise.

But this is the “kick ‘em when they’re down” world we all live in. The reward for willingness to risk a career for the team was a ticket out of town. It sucks and there’s no way around it. But don’t think any other team would have done differently. As I’ve said before, basketball is big business and in big business they eat their own young.

So Raja got dealt. I’m sure LB doesn’t like that it happened. It would be nice to think that he had a quiet chat with Raja in which he explained what was going on and promised Raj that once he was available and healthy Larry would use all his juice to bring him back. Hell, there’s some chance that might have really happened. But Brown also knows his own role. He’s been around and gotten enough knocks himself to know that the way it works in this league is that he comes into town on his record and reputation, builds the team his way – through trade and disruption – and then people get sick of him and toss him on the scrap heap. If Brown doesn’t bring results to Charlotte, his own days are numbered. He’ll have little trouble finding work if he wants it, but he’s getting older and will want to retire sooner rather than later. I don’t know how many promises Brown is going to make for future favors. I think it’s more likely that Brown shrugged his shoulders and told Bell that it was the best he could do – get him to a town where Brown had friends and connections and could make sure he got a fair shake from his new team. So Bell will lick his wounds. He’ll grumble for a couple of days. But as a stand up guy, he’ll get the lay of the land, make a friend or two on the squad, and then decide if he can help bring the dubs some success. If so, he’ll play. If not, or if he’s finally had enough of the crap, he’ll opt for the surgery and try to return next year.

If the Cats have a hole at his position and think they can get him on the cheap, he’ll be back here. If not, he’ll be in New York or Milwaulkee or some town trying to build a profitable team around a couple of name players and a stable supporting cast.

I think Brown is a decent enough guy that if he’s still coaching in the league he’ll try to make it right by Raja. LB is known for stocking his stable with people who did him right and Raja definitely fits the bill. But there are a lot of variables involved, not the least of which is how well Raja comes back from his surgery whenever he does decide to have it.

The way the trades fly on a Brown team, that’s far from guaranteed.