With all the recent drama in Sacramento, the outlook for the Kings next season is looking worse than the Soundscan numbers from Chris Webber’s first rap album. After Mike Bibby emerged into a budding superstar in the 2002 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, I would have bet money on this team winning at least two championships with the nucleus of Peja Stojakovic, Webber and Bibby. Tell me they added Brad Miller to the mix a year later and I would have guaranteed it. Now, a little over two years and many heartbreaking losses later, the Kings are fading faster than America’s love for the Olsen twins.

Vlade Divac

If it weren’t enough that Sacramento wasn’t willing to pony up a few dollars to keep their heart and soul Vlade Divac around, news came this week that the best European on their team, Stojakovic, now wants to move on and play somewhere else. And while Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie and the Maloof brothers may tell the media they refuse to part with Peja, it is plain to see that like any promising relationship, this was doomed from the second Stojakovic said he wanted out. Because we all know that when one half of a perfect match feels differently than the other half, both are better off moving forward. But how could a team that looked so promising, so full of championship potential a mere two years ago fall flat on its face so fast?

Chris Webber’s comments in interviews after this season’s playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves may have slammed the door shut on any hope of he and Stojakovic coexisting together in the future. “I’m not trying to call out Peja,” Webber told the Sacramento Bee. “I was calling out a lot of people. I was calling out our team. I was calling out our mentality. It’s time to stop playing soft and (like) suburban kids. That’s what we play like. We play like we’re from the suburbs, and the best basketball is played in the city.” Is that so, Chris? Someone needs to tell C-Webb that he plays in Sacramento and the NBA, not a streetball league in New York City. If the guy puts his foot in his mouth one more time, he may just be qualified to be our next President. Can’t you just see Webber at the podium, reciting the “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me - you can't get fooled again” line?

Chris Webber

Maybe more mind-boggling than Webber’s antics, which have been going on for years now in Sacramento, have been some of the organization’s player moves this offseason. On the very same day that Divac left Sacramento to return to the Lakers, Petrie and the Maloofs unveiled his replacement, Greg Ostertag. Greg Ostertag? Is that the same Greg Ostertag that lived in Jerry Sloan’s doghouse out in Utah? I know professional basketball is lacking in big men these days, but seriously, can this guy even run anymore? Is a guy like Ostertag supposed to get the fans excited and sell tickets? He is a class act and all, but that doesn’t help beat Minnesota and San Antonio.

Before the free agent signing of Ostertag even happened, the Kings made another questionable decision in leaving fan favorite Gerald Wallace unprotected to be snatched up by the Charlotte Bobcats in the expansion draft. Now, perhaps Wallace didn’t quite prove himself in Sacramento, but did he even have the chance? The guy only started nine games in his three seasons with the Kings. Nine games. If that is what they call a chance in Sacramento, they may as well quit while they are ahead.

Peja Stojakovic

Adding to the team’s woes amid what has been a hot topic in the River City over the past few years is the ongoing fight between the Kings and the city over funding for a new arena. Historically, things can get pretty bitter between sports franchises and city councils when it comes to who is going to pay what for such improvements, and this battle has been no exception. In fact, in the wake of an August 5th meeting about the proposed new downtown facility, hope for the arena project is now virtually nonexistent. When Kings officials walked away from the meeting saying the proposed plan was dead, they just may have taken any hope of the franchise remaining in Sacramento with them.

All I know is that the Kings were an easy team to root for and be a fan of for the past two years, and now they may be a bigger soap opera than the Lakers next season. They were the classic underdog going up against the mighty Lakers, with all the ability and teamwork to beat the proven champions. The unheralded franchise from the overlooked city, going up against Hollywood and all its historical glory. David versus Goliath. Now, Sacramento is looking at a future with Bibby, Miller, an aging Doug Christie, an injury-prone Webber, whoever they get in return for Stojakovic and an unproven bench. That doesn’t sound too promising to me. And I’d be willing to bet that Sacramento’s fans aren’t too keen on it either.