Steve Wilson / Reuters file

The big question, according to columnist Bob Cook, is which Ron Artest will show up in Sacramento?

Indiana needs it. The Pacers entered this season with the NBA’s fourth-highest payroll, with $79.6 million, and Stojakovic actually makes about $1 million more than Artest. But after this season, $12 million in dead money to the retired Reggie Miller and the may-as-well-be-retired Scot Pollard comes off the books.

Even if Stojakovic were to exercise his option and play next season, his contract, as well as those of Jonathan Bender, Croshere and Jones — would disappear at the end of that year, saving about $28 million, assuming none would be re-signed. (Jones, making a maximum of $3.2 million, could end up staying. Bender, whose chronic knee injuries might force his retirement, certainly wouldn’t. And Croshere, up to $9.5 million by then, has no hope of coming close to that salary if he wants to stay.)

Artest, meanwhile, is signed through the end of 2008, with an $8.5 million player’s option for 2009. So the Pacers in the future save money and have more contract flexibility.

At this point, you might wonder, what's in this for the Kings? After you look at their roster, you still might wonder. Certainly, Artest, if he keeps his head together, can give the defensive toughness and energy the Kings want.

But looking at the Kings' roster, it's hard to imagine this was a team that not long ago was a perennial championship contender. This team has no identity. Mike Bibby and Brad Miller, who played with Artest in Chicago and Indiana, are solid, but not incredibly bloated, seven-figure-annual-salary solid.

Meanwhile, Sacramento is getting near-career high scoring (15.0) and career-high rebounding (7.6) numbers from Bonzi Wells. Forget the numbers — Wells and Artest on the same team? That's two great head cases who might not go so great together. Particularly because Bibby is a scoring point guard, Wells wants the ball, and even Miller gets a fair number of touches. Artest wanted out of Indiana because he felt he wasn't being used enough on offense. Good luck getting those opportunities on this team, Ron.

Sacramento coach Rick Adelman looked to be on thin ice already, and having to manage Artest and Wells together, and whatever problems Artest could cause, might send him plunging through into the cold, dark waters of the coaching unemployment line.

Good Ron could perhaps galvanize the Kings and give them the push they need to get back into playoff contention. Bad Ron can sink Sacramento even faster. Hopefully, the Kings' expectations aren't too high, because as the Pacers can tell you, Artest is bound to break your heart.

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