"Three months after he changed his name and went sashaying across a ballroom floor on national television, Metta World Peace has stepped back into a familiar role.

Dancing with strange thoughts.

Take his view on all the trade rumors involving the Lakers: "I've been more focused on the Herman Cain presidential campaign this year," he said. "I want some Godfather's Pizza."

Then there's his opinion on teammate Lamar Odom being traded to the Dallas Mavericks: "Honestly, I don't even know what happened. I just woke up and I had some beans this morning and I read something, but I don't believe everything I read."

And finally, there's his response to a reporter who inquired about some teammates calling him Ron and others Metta: "Well, I'm just happy that Jesus Christ, um, did not let me lose my teeth when I was 20 years old.""