The Los Angeles Lakers completed a second-round sweep of the Kings on that day a year ago. The loss sent Webber into the heady world of free agency. Why would he stay in the land of tomato fields and pastures when the bright lights of big cities beckoned?

Money, for one reason. Salary cap rules allowed the Kings to give Webber the biggest deal: $122.7 million over seen years.

Emotions played a role, too.

When Webber silently walked off the court after the loss to the Lakers, he began thinking about how much this team meant to him, about how he felt at home for the first time in a turmoil-filled career that included stops with Golden State and Washington.

The Kings had grown on him. They were, Webber thought, too close to winning to leave now.