TNT analyst Charles Barkley likes the Sacramento Kings chances in the reshaped Western Conference if they can trade Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest.

"Ain't no moves under the radar, buddy. I'll tell you what: If Sacramento will trade Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest, they could win the West. They need that defensive element. They need that. They don't need the offense. I would do that trade yesterday. That's a great trade for Sacramento. I don't know what they're holding up."

Based on a ratings system developed by Jeff Sagarin and Wayne Winston, the NBA equivalent of Bill James and Rob Neyer, Hedo Turkoglu was the highest rated player last season.

Factored in are stuff such as chasing loose balls, taking charges and playing off-ball defense, intangibles overlooked by most traditional stats.

Sagarin is known as the father of USA Today's computer college-football ratings. Winston is an Indiana University professor and a past Jeopardy! champ. They were math whizzes years ago at MIT and combined their love of computers, statistics and sports.

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and star of the telvision show 'The Benefactor,' was a student in Winston's math class at Indiana. When they ran into each other at a Mavs' game four years ago, Cuban asked Winston how his team could be improved.

Winston had an epiphany while lounging at his Dallas hotel pool, and the "Winval" rankings system was born. It is modeled after hockey's plus-minus system, in which players are evaluated on how their team performs when they are on the ice.

It's not surprising that Turkoglu admired the all-around game of the recently retired Scottie Pippen, "because he can do so many things and hurt you in many ways. He did more things for his team than just score."

Finishing behind Turkoglu on this list were Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Brad Miller and Manu Ginobili.

The Sacramento Kings were both cautious and noncommittal to coach Rick Adelman's request for an extension as he enters the final year of his contract, the Sacramento Bee is reporting.  Kings management want Adelman to prove that he is still the right man for the job in Sacramento before a new contract will be offered in light of recent rumblings from within the player's ranks.

Sagas surrounding the likes of Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber and now-Laker Vlade Divac have dominated the headlines for the Kings this offseason, but that aside there is no doubting that Adelman has been able to turn the franchise around in his seven years at the helm in California, shattering most franchise marks for regular-season and playoff victories.

"I certainly feel our staff deserves that nod of recognition, a little security," Adelman told The Bee last week.

"Rick and I have talked," said Petrie, speaking slowly, and visibly uncomfortable, "but that conversation will stay between us. He has a contract."

The New York Post is reporting that Keon Clark visited the Knicks camp in Westchester during this past summer and verbally accepted a contract.

After that meeting Clark was not heard from again by Knick management and he remains a free-agent today.

The Knicks were hoping that Clark could return to the form that made him such a valuable part of the Kings team of 2002-2003.

According to a source close to Peja Stojakovic, there is no way that he will resign with the Kings when his contract expires, but he expects to be traded by the February 15th deadline.

There has been talk of a possible trade scenario where Peja would be exchanged for Vince Carter, but that appears increasingly unlikely, as Carter's value is at an all-time low.

Other trade reports involving Stojakovic have involved Ron Artest.  Artest is the reigning defensive player of the year and would sure up a suspect Sacramento defense.  Both the Pacers and Kings have denied discussing such a deal.

Stojakovic has reported to camp, but has not backed down from his interest in playing for a new team.  Sacramento appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach, hoping that things can be resolved before they dismantle a team that has been very close to reaching the NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant must endure two seasons of cap hell until the Lakers will have the mobility to acquire help to turn the storied franchise into a championship contender.

It could come from Peja Stojakovic who can opt out of his contract in the summer of 2006.  It is unlikely that the Kings will be able to move Webber, given his enormous contract, so Peja will likely desperately want to leave Sacramento by then, especially considering he is already requesting to be moved.

According to Peter Vescey of the New York Post, Peja  Stojakovic may still be traded away, most likely to either the Chicago Bulls or Indiana Pacers.  They have both the resources and available talent to complete a deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Stojakovic's first choice would likely be the Miami Heat, but their roster is already very thin, and it is highly unlikely that they could entice the Kings to bite.

What is more likely is for the Kings to shop Chris Webber.  Webber is plagued by that bad knee and has an albatross of a contract.

"Management is much more intent on trading Chris Webber but can't seem to drum up any interest."

In last year's baseball offseason the Boston Red Sox put Manny Ramirez on waivers and nobody claimed him, because of his excessive contract, and he is arguably the best right-handed hitter in the MLB, so on that paralell, the Kings who are essentially seeking somebody to take his contract and without a single morsel of interest, Webber will  likely be a fixed commodity with the Kings.

Kings center Greg Ostertag will be out four-to-six weeks after breaking his right hand in a fall at his home Saturday night.

Ostertag signed with the Kings in July after nine seasons with the Utah Jazz. He is expected to be the backup to All-Star center Brad Miller.

Fox Sports is reporting that free agent guard Courtney Alexander has signed a one year contract with the Sacramento Kings on Friday shortly before the start of training camp.

Alexander, the 13th overall pick of the 2000 NBA draft, spent last season in New Orleans where his year was cut short due to injury.

"I'm still standing behind the words I said in August, but I am professional," Peja Stojakovic said. "I have a contract with the Kings, two years, and I'm going to honor that. It just wouldn't be fair for the city, the organization and for my teammates, who I respect. I'm just going to go out there and play basketball."

Stojakovic seemed upbeat and excited to see his teammates as they began preparations for their preseason trip to China.

Stojakovic averaged a career-best 24.2 points and 6.3 rebounds last season, thriving as the Kings' top offensive threat while Chris Webber was sidelined by a serious knee injury. But when Webber returned from an eight-game suspension after the All-Star break, Stojakovic's assertiveness and production declined.

Stojakovic averaged just 17.5 points in the playoffs, and the Kings were eliminated by Minnesota in the second round. He skipped the Olympics to rest and to serve his military obligation to his adopted nation -- and two months after the season ended, he told the Kings he wanted out.

But Stojakovic gave no concrete reasons for his request, other than a vague declaration that the Kings' chemistry was fractured. After meetings with general manager Geoff Petrie and a conversation with owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, he realized no trade was imminent -- so he moved his girlfriend and newborn son back to Sacramento and went on with life.

"It was my opinion at that time, and I still think about that," he said. "So far, I'm here, and I'm going to play with the team."