The news is buzzing around town that Raja Bell is no longer a member of the Phoenix Suns. This is what was published on azcentral.com this afternoon:

The Suns acquired dynamic shooting guard Jason Richardson today in a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats that will also bring second-year forward Jared Dudley and a 2010 second-round draft choice to the Suns in exchange for shooting guard Raja Bell, forward Boris Diaw and rookie point guard Sean Singletary.

Raja Bell will be missed. He’s a hard working and down-to-earth player who is very good with the fans. Everyone I know who likes the Suns thinks that given the opportunity, they would become good friends with Raja and his family. Some would say this is the delusion that all sports fans share, but they’re missing the fact that fans rarely connect with the players on the court. Does anyone remember who went with Shawn Marion to Miami in the big trade for Shaq a mere 10 months ago?

Exactly.

As for Boris Diaw… He had a great year in Phoenix shortly after he was acquired from Atlanta–the same year he was awarded the Most Improved Player in the league. Since then his impact on the team is unclear. Commentators love to gush praises about his versatility, but it’s hard for a fan to connect with a player if he’s terrified of shooting the ball. I like a good passer as much as anyone else, but after a few years of watching Boris in a Suns jersey, he starts too look like an overpaid coward. In contrast, Raja Bell was an underpaid warrior. You could see his passion for the game and his desire to win everytime he stepped onto the court. He wanted the victory as much as the fans.

That is why I wasn’t surprised to see the results of the Arizona Republic poll this afternoon that 34% will miss Raja, and only 3% will miss Boris Diaw.

It’s too early to know how Richardson and Dudley will fit into Steve Kerr and Terry Porter’s blueprint for a championship. But it’s clear that today the city of Phoenix has lost one of it’s hometown favorites. So Raja if you are reading, know that the city will welcome you back when you’re ready to retire from basketball get involved in the community. My wife told me that she would like to have your family over for dinner.

*Answer: Marcus Banks, the $4,000,000/yr bench warmer