Matt Barnes Is Now an Official Cast Member of the L.A. Lakers Reality Show

Maybe MTV or VH1 should explore the possibility of creating a reality show starring members of the Los Angeles Lakers, because the venture would definitely be must-see TV.

The Lakers, with their multitude of quirky personalities and eccentricities, are a perfect fit for Hollywood, and all the glamour and celebrity excesses the concept entails.

Derek Fisher, who may qualify as the only legally sane veteran member of the Lakers' roster, must get a kick out of watching his teammates consistently find new ways to create headlines.

Star guard Kobe Bryant, who is no stranger to the media spotlight, may be the most polarizing athlete in the world of sports and is always a story just waiting to happen.

Pau Gasol may literally be a genius when it comes to intelligence, but he also has some of the weird tendencies that are usually found in people who are super-smart.

Ron Artest has had so many "what-the-hell-was-that" moments that he may qualify for a reality show of his own.

Lamar Odom, who is usually one of the more reserved and low-key members of the Lakers, shattered that perception by marrying one of the very public Kardashian sisters.

Center Andrew Bynum has battled emotional insecurities, knee injuries, and the desire to be a porn star, as past pictures with Playboy models would suggest.

And reserve guard Shannon Brown recently dumped his girlfriend of many years in favor of a more high-profile relationship with R&B singer Monica.

Presiding over all of this is the Zen Master himself, Lakers' coach Phil Jackson, whose own quirky nature and tongue-in-cheek interviews make him a Los Angeles beat writer's dream.

Throw in newcomer Matt Barnes's alleged domestic violence charge, and you have the beginnings of a show that Hollywood could not have scripted any better.

In Barnes's defense, his girlfriend has said that no instance of domestic violence actually took place, but that revelation only adds more spice to the ever-evolving Lakers' soap opera.

Hopefully Barnes did not stoop so low as to strike a woman, and maybe this will turn out to be a non-issue, but in any case Barnes is now a full-fledged member of the Lakers' traveling circus.

With all the drama present in the Lakers' locker room, it's a wonder they ever find time to play basketball, not to mention win championships.

But playing in Los Angeles means adapting to the sort of lifestyle where a major media story lurks around every corner.

It takes a special type of player to wear the purple and gold, and it may be much easier to embrace the Hollywood lifestyle, rather than to pretend it does not exist.

Playing for the NBA's most glamorous franchise means accepting the fact that every move you make will be scrutinized, dissected, discussed, and put on a platter for the world to see.

Barnes is expected to play a significant role for the Lakers next season, but will it be on the court or in the courthouse?

It's hard to believe that Barnes does not understand this because, after all, he did play his college ball at UCLA and should be well-versed in the potential dangers of Hollywood.

The LAPD are known for pursuing domestic violence charges regardless whether or not the alleged victim recants their accusation, so this could be just the beginning of Barnes's troubles.

Although Lakers' fans have come to accept, and even embrace the team's eccentricities, it's hard to imagine them standing behind Barnes if the accusations prove to be true.

A woman-beater should not be tolerated under any circumstance, and Barnes runs the risk of becoming the evil cast member in the Lakers' reality show before the first episode even airs.

I would encourage observers to exercise caution before passing judgment on Barnes, because this could prove to be nothing more than an argument between a man and his girlfriend.

And if the charges do prove to be unjust, we can count this as Barnes's initiation into the colorful cast of characters we like to call the Los Angeles Lakers.