Monday, December 01, 2008

By SAM AMICK
THE SACRAMENTO BEE

last updated: July 03, 2008 05:35:35 AM

When Ron Artest attended the National Basketball Players Association meetings in the Bahamas recently, some of his most respected colleagues implored him to opt out of his contract and join forces with their respective teams.

When Artest attended Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Boston, he instantly sparked speculation that he could be the missing piece alongside Kobe Bryant for a Los Angeles Lakers team that fell short in its title run.

But when the small forward and his agent, Mark Stevens, had a conference call with Sacramento Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie on Tuesday morning, one day after Artest decided to play the final season of his contract with the Kings for $7.4 million, the love was nowhere to be found.

Several sources close to the team said Artest entered with the hopes of discussing a lucrative, long-term extension -- but was told the Kings were not prepared to take part in such talks.

The message, quite clearly, is that he was not a part of their long-term plans. Artest was told to play out the season and be prepared to either be traded or revisit the issue next summer, when he would be an unrestricted free agent.

Not long after, Artest sent an e-mail to ESPN.com's Marc Stein expressing regret over his decision to stay.

"I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract, and I have to live with it," Artest wrote. "I had some misleading information (in making the) decision on not opting out. ...

"I don't see myself with (the) Kings beyond 2008-09."

Just as the Kings did in February, they are expected to entertain trade offers for Artest and take advantage of his rising value.

UDRIH READY -- While Artest questioned his decision to stay with the Kings, Beno Udrih had no such internal conflict.

"I know I'm not going to have any regrets," Udrih said.

Nor should he. The fifth-year player, who was a career backup until last season, agreed to a five-year deal with the Kings on Tuesday, filling the void at point guard for a team so badly in need while landing the sort of contract few would have foreseen eight months ago.

Two sources close to the team said Udrih -- who was traded from San Antonio to Minnesota in October and waived before the Kings signed him Nov. 1 -- was given the Kings' entire midlevel exception and will earn approximately $32 million over the five seasons.

In his first three seasons in San Antonio, Udrih went from a highly regarded rookie to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's doghouse.

But his circumstances turned, from his emergency signing by the Kings after a thumb injury to Mike Bibby to the season in which few doubted Udrih's ability to be a full-time starter.

While Udrih answered many of the questions surrounding his game last season, the question of durability again was raised when he missed 10 games near the end of the season with a back strain.

Still, general manager Geoff Petrie said Udrih showed plenty to warrant the deal. In the 51 games Udrih started, he averaged 14.4 points on 47.4 percent shooting (40.4 from 3-point range) and five assists.

"He's just turning 26," Petrie said. "This is his first year of being a full-time starter. ... I think his best basketball is still in front of him."

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