It’s Time for Lakers to Let Rodman Go

With everybody wondering what the Lakers should do with poor, troubled Dennis Rodman, here’s an idea:

Cut him.

And do it quickly, before he returns from spring break.

I know, I know.

How can I be so insensitive to the needs of one so obviously crying for help?

How can I advocate the castigation of a man just because he is different?

Then, of course, there’s the real issue.

How can I push for the release of a player with whom the Lakers are 9-0?

Cut him anyway.

If he needs medical assistance--and given his erratic behavior, is it unfair to wonder?--then the Lakers should give him that assistance.

If he truly left the team last weekend because of an anxiety attack over his marriage to Carmen Electra, then treat the anxiety.

Even then, you still cut him, leaving the door open for reinstatement when he is healthy.

But what if this is just another part of Rodman’s marketing genius?

Maybe he ran off Saturday just to pound a few drinks and play a little cards.

Maybe he just wanted a couple of days off. Knowing how the surprisingly star-struck Laker fans have fallen for him, maybe he figured he could get it without the team daring to do anything.

In that case, that door should be closed for good.

I know what many of you are saying.

It’s been the same thing since you gave Rodman a standing ovation when he took the Great Western Forum floor against the Clippers in his debut Feb. 26.

You love Rodman for his rebounding, his defense, his energy.

Judge this basketball player only by how he plays basketball, you say.

I agree.

Using that standard, let’s judge Rodman by what he did on the Arco Arena court Sunday night in Sacramento.

Zero rebounds. Zero steals. Zero minutes.

Now, let’s judge him by what he is expected to do tonight in Minnesota.

Zero rebounds. Zero steals. Zero minutes.

Some of you will point to Sunday’s loss to Sacramento and say, “See, they were beaten because he wasn’t there.”

Again, I agree.

Which is exactly why he should be released.

His sudden flight left them unprepared and disorganized.

The next time he leaves, it will happen again.

And don’t say I’m mad about the hair, or the nose rings, or tattoos, or obscene quotes, or even the missed practices.

None of that matters, or has ever mattered. You know it and I know it.

This is about an unmarked, unpierced bottom line.

Dennis Rodman was signed to win games.

Three weeks later, he’s already missing them.

Cut him.

And do it quickly, before the Lakers waste one more minute fighting through this sticky web of distraction.

Most of it clinging to Laker owner Jerry Buss.

Buss’ desperation at not winning a championship for 11 years manifested itself in this acquisition that nobody else wanted.

Early indications were that it was working. Longtime observers knew it wouldn’t.

Which brings us to Jerry West.

He could do it, you know.

He could make such a public stink about Rodman that Buss would have to agree to cut him.

West publicly wept last year in the middle of a contract dispute with Buss, and guess what. He got his contract.

West needs to use that hammer again.

He already has a contending team.

Two recent moves have ensured that, and neither has anything to do with Rodman.

The players are playing more intelligently and are more relaxed under new Coach Kurt Rambis.

Those who are so quick to note the Lakers are 9-0 with Rodman should realize, they are 9-1 with Rambis.

And now they have a legitimate outside shooter in Glen Rice, perhaps the one piece that would have given them a better chance last year against Utah.

Will the Lakers miss Rodman’s defense and rebounding? Of course.

But under Rambis, they will probably acquire the work-boot mentality to make up for it.

Yes, in a very short time, Dennis Rodman changed the look of these Lakers.

This team has rarely won with such intimidation. This team has also rarely looked so foolish with such turmoil.

The intimidation won’t last. The turmoil will.

Cut Dennis Rodman, before he plays us for suckers again.

*

Bill Plaschke can be reached at his e-mail address: bill.plaschke@latimes.com.

* MORE RODMAN: Dennis Rodman’s problems reportedly have him considering a divorce. Page 7