It only feels right to pay homage to a K Brothers' fave, considering his monstrous- and mohawked!- performance against the team that drafted him (and since the Lakers won anyway, why not?)  10-14 from the field for 23 points, highlighted by a trio of triples and a few sweet trips to the rack.  Two steals.  That slightly sideways-tilted gait as he sprints about.  It all came to a head in one heck of a performance.  So for that, we take a trip down memory lane to some of the blog's past thoughts on Mr. Wafer. 

His rookie midseason report card in 2006

Von Wafer-

BK- Love him.  I wish he played more.  Why?  Because he makes the game fun.  The guy will shoot from anywhere.  That big dunk against Memphis (it was Memphis, right?) was one for the season ending highlight tape.  Sure he's shooting under 20% from the field, but hey, we're all human.  D+/Inc.

AK- Very few things in life shock me. Von's 16.7% from the field? That shocks me. If he had been manning the grassy knoll, JFK would still be alive. That being said, kid's got balls and ain't afraid to chuck. And being one of the only athletic looking guys on this squad, I could see his time coming. Just not this season. D/Inc.

Well, the world may soon learn, since Smush Parker has bolted the states (and his NBDL Rio Grande Valley Vipers) for a stint in the Chinese Basketball Association.  The team now employing William Henry is believed to be the Guangdong. In related news, Yao Ming is not losing sleep over threatened status as the country's most popular player.  But at least if Smush isn't communicating with this particular set of teammates, a language barrier can theoretically be cited as an excuse.

It's also interesting to hear perspective from the Viper play-by-play man Alex Del Barrio about Parker's time with the squad.

Its no secret that Smush didn't really gel with this Viper squad. He was lackadaisical with the ball, (leading the league in turnovers) had spurts where he didn't get his team mates involved, rarely passed the ball into the low post, and took horrible shots. Some games he was great but to sum it up the only thing he was ever consistent in, was being inconsistent. His NBA shot may not have passed him by, he is still a great athlete, but for this season Smush has to focus on why he is struggling and fix that. He will have a chance to do that in China now.

The parts about inconsistency and needing to take an honest look at the causes for struggle have a certain "deja vu all over again" feeling.  All jokes about the guy aside, it is kinda sad to see a guy rob himself of an NBA opportunity because of a continual failure to "get it." 

AK 

The pronunciation of Corie Blount's last name is now hilariously ironic.  Unless, of course, you happen to be Corie Blount, caught picking up 11 pounds of weed.  You know, to go along with the 11 pounds you have at home.

Then the "Blunt" punchline isn't nearly as funny. 

I'd try the "hella glaucoma" defense.

AK

And I'm staring down our upcoming season, one where the roster's powder keg personality is even more likely to erupt now that perennial peace maker Marcus Camby was jettisoned to the Clips for a collection of sandwiches and old Betamax movies (If you don't believe me, ask Camby), this dude is exactly the ray of sunshine I'd debate adding to the mix.  I guess they're figuring, "the more, the (rarely if ever) merrier." 

When it comes to second chances, never let it be said that the NBA isn't often the equivalent of a bottomless cup of coffee.

AK

As Kwame Brown just became the newest member of the Detroit Pistons.  Two years, $8 million, with a player option for the second season.  In theory, this is the perfect team for the former Laker. The Pistons barely score, often cruise the court at a glacial pace, play ugly Eastern conference ball and have enough good players to possibly cover Brown's weaknesses (to put it kindly). Most important, he isn't expected to be a star, nor is it remotely a given that he'll start (which I doubt he'd mind).  Frankly, his playing time could come along the lines of a situational lefty in baseball or an NFL third down back.  At any rate, I think it's safe to say that if the Artist Formerly Known as "54"- Jason Maxiell already has the number, so a switch may be in order- can't find success in this situation, it isn't happening anywhere. 

At any rate, Kwame's a good dude, so I wish him the best (except against one team, obviously).  I'd be lying if I claimed confidence his career will turn around in Day-twah, but hey, stranger things have happened.  After all, the Clippers just put Ricky Davis on the same Mike Dunleavy-coached team as Tim Thomas. 
 

AK

We get it. You're devoted to each other in the way normal human beings couldn't possibly understand.  Move on.

By the way, what's the gift protocol if you've been invited more than once?

AK

If I've learned anything from my addiction to "The Shield," it's that a cop can get away with beating suspects, protecting drug dealers in exchange for a taste of the profits, skimming cash from seizures, ripping off a money laundering ring, or even killing a fellow officer.  But if there's one thing Detective Vic Mackey and his Strike Team can't pull off, it's using inappropriate language while freestyling for a club crowd. 

Let that be a lesson for all budding po-po. 

AK

Not necessarily on the court, mind you, but man alive if our man Smush isn't throwing his weight around in other places.  Like at the valet stand.  No word yet if the conflict described within this link involves the Smushcalade.  We can only hope.  At least Smush plans on growing from this incident, or so his agent says.  This sort of news reminds me there's still a piece of my blogging heart that misses ol' William Henry.  Not in a "Von Wafer" or "Slava Medvedenko" way, where I'd consider donating a kidney to bring either one back to L.A... but really, when you do what AK and I do for a living, a guy like Smush can be pretty handy to have around.

Try to remember the good times.

BK