SACRAMENTO KINGS
A Rebirth in Conan's Back Yard?

Before the start of last season, it seemed Kings general manager Geoff Petrie could do no wrong. He had showed once more his ability to masterfully shuffle big names, shipping off Peja Stojakovic just before his sell-by date and bringing in Ron Artest — a gamble that paid immediate dividends, turning around a lackluster campaign and installing a long-missing defensive presence in the Sacramento frontcourt. Best of all, in 2005-2006 Petrie's team had reached the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.

The party was long and intoxicating. Now for the hangover.

The year got off to an inauspicious start when new — and since deposed — head coach Eric Musselman was arrested for a DUI following a preseason game. Heartily compensated point guard Mike Bibby was hampered early by a thumb injury and never really returned to form, putting up the lowest shooting-percentage and assist numbers of his career. And Artest's troubles came to the fore again: he was accused of neglecting his dog, although charges were not filed, and later pleaded no contest in a domestic violence case. (As a result of the latter episode, the NBA handed down a seven-game suspension that will be served at the start of this season.) After a 33-49 finish, Petrie let Musselman go, opting instead for a relative unknown in rookie head coach (and former King) Reggie Theus.

The hiring failed to elicit a collective twitter of excitement in the capital city, but there are nonetheless a few bright spots for the current iteration of the Kings. The first is that last year's squad dreadfully underperformed; though center Brad Miller's career seems to be in decline, Bibby is still just 29 and is not likely to reprise last year's dismal campaign. And Bibby's backcourt mate, Kevin Martin, revealed himself to be a potential star, scoring more than 20 points a game and putting up solid numbers across the board.

Martin's presence and that of a few young players who should develop into solid contributors have led many to hope Petrie ships the sizable contracts of Miller and Bibby elsewhere, essentially exploding the nucleus of the team and rebuilding around a younger, cheaper, as yet unproved core. Given Miller's limited abilities, it seems more likely that Bibby would be dealt, especially given his perceived failure to mesh with Artest. (Rumors about Artest's future with the franchise have also swirled in the off-season, but he insists he wants to remain a King.)

With a new coach at the helm and the status of so many starters in limbo, the Kings enter the new season with more questions than answers. But it seems reasonable to assume that Martin will continue to demand attention, Bibby (if he stays) will rebound somewhat from his funk, and Artest will either shape up or quickly find himself to be someone else's problem. Given those modest predictions, Theus should have a decent talent pool to draw on during his rookie season. Whether he can instill a little more drive and unity than his predecessor may be the deciding factor in the team's fate.

Barring a miracle of Mitch-Richmond-for-Chris-Webber proportions (and Petrie can only be asked to pull off a once-in-a-career deal, well, once in a career), contending in the Western Conference is out of the question. But a .500-plus finish and a late run at a lower playoff seed? In a city where Conan the Barbarian presides over one of the world's largest economies, stranger things have happened.