Ostertag

In effect, Ostertag replaces Divac, even though he isn't expected to start. And Vlade's shoes are big ones. The Kings offense played to Divac's strengths as one of the league's top passing big men.

Ostertag has never put up big assist numbers, but neither had Brad Miller before arriving last season and dishing 4.3 dimes a night. One thing The Really Big O has always done is block shots and he's a capable rebounder.

He's not being asked to provide any offense, so his defense and rebounding should be enough if he can hit the open man. If he succeeds, he can earn extra minutes backing up both Miller and Webber (Miller would shift to the '4'). If not, the smaller, svelter Darius Songaila might earn a larger role.

Miller

The Kings lost Vlade Divac to free agency and Gerald Wallace in the expansion draft, but the rotation is more or less unchanged otherwise. The only dip into the free agent pool was to nab Greg Ostertag as a backup to Brad Miller.

Miller steps in at center after a career-best year, when he averaged a double-double and 4.3 assists per game in his first season in Sacramento. Though he was slated as a sixth man last year, he started most of the season for Chris Webber, who missed 59 games.

Webber is back, hoping to regain his double-double form of a year ago. His numbers were down across the board a year ago, but the biggest cause for concern was the 41 percent shooting from the field. If he returns to his dominant form and spends less time on the perimeter, the Kings have one of the league's premier power forwards.

Webber, to his credit, deserves a lifetime achievement award from the Kings. After initially spurning the team and the city upon his arrival in 1998, he is the player most responsible for turning around the Kings fortunes and turning them into an elite team.

Mike Bibby and Doug Christie started 82 games together in the Kings backcourt. Bibby is one of the league's top clutch players, who is coming off of a career year (18.4 points per game). Christie, 34, is still a defensive stopper who somehow managed to reach double figures (10.1 points per game last year) in a loaded lineup.

Peja Stojakovic took the Olympics off to rest up after averaging 40 minutes a game and looking tired during the postseason. Stojakovic picked up the scoring load in Webber's absence, leading the Kings with 24.2 points per game.

The Kings have so much punch in their starting lineup that their lack of depth might only surface in the event of an injury. The biggest asset on the bench is Bobby Jackson, a combo guard who has been one of the league's best bench players the past three seasons.

Continuity under Rick Adelman, big men who pass the ball, spectacular 3-point shooting; it seems the Kings have a little of everything except an NBA title to show for their success. Sacramento is a contender once again, but isn't equipped to endure an extended injury, so they'll need a little good fortune (but then who doesn't?) to make the ultimate triumph.