A curious wire story out of San Diego pertaining to Ron Artest. Which probably shouldn’t surprise anyone, because “curious” and “Ron Artest” are terms that generate 17,200 hits when paired in a google search. It’s almost “dog bites man” in terms of routine.

Artest was in San Diego to help promote the Lakers’ exhibition game there on Oct. 23, and Artest unplugged was so stunningly oblivious to what was going on around him … that it beggared several questions.

–Is he really that dumb? Does he honestly not know San Diego is part of Southern California? Did he really not know that San Diego has a major-league baseball team (the Padres), and has since 1969?

–Should the Lakers, say, brief the guy about where they are sending him? Get out a map? Show it to him? Send a minder with him and, on the ride down in the limo, just go over the salient facts? “It’s close to Mexico. They love the Chargers.” Let him know that San Diego is, for NBA purposes, an outrider of the Los Angeles market — a status the city hates but sometimes has to accept. (Such as its semi-commitment to USC football and UCLA basketball, even with San Diego State in town.)

–Does Ron-Ron’s disconnect from basic geography and sports knowledge indicate he is just as clueless about the team he is joining? Can you be an idiot in some basics, and a savant in others?

It is good to know Artest is coherent enough to understand that if the Lakers don’t repeat, and there are no major injuries … yes, he will be the guy who is fitted for the dunce cap.

The Lakers are bringing back essentially the same team that just won an NBA title (the team’s fourth of the decade), with only one significant change:

Ron Artest in, Trevor Ariza out.

My memory remains just keen enough to recall that I came out in support, in July, of what was, essentially, a swap — Ariza to Houston from L.A., Artest to L.A. from Houston, both as free agents. I suggested Artest was a better three-point shooter, and also noted that he would be “more fun” to have around.

Now, I’m starting to worry a bit about the “flake” factor, which clearly is far higher with Artest than the low-key Ariza. The goofball thing may override any “fun” to be had from Artest.

This is a guy who doesn’t even know where he is while traveling Southern California. I mean, it’s not like San Diego is just another suburban town in SoCal.

So how clueless is he? Pretty darn clueless.

But at least he understands the big picture: Lakers don’t win, fans point their fingers at you, Ron-Ron.