A: Stay with me. Let's say that leaves Dallas, L.A. and Sacramento. If Dallas comes up short, Mark Cuban might conclude he's one Karl short of seriously competing for the whole shebang. The Lakers clearly need something, and even if Jerry Buss tries to go cheap, Malone isn't necessarily off the table -- the Kings, Lakers and Mavs all would likely offer Malone the mid-level exception to the salary cap, around $4.5 million.

Q: Your point being?

A: My point being this is no decision in a vacuum for Maloof Money Inc. By signing Malone, brothers Joe and Gavin would be moving not only to bring him to Sacramento, but -- perhaps just as important -- to keep Malone from playing for the Lakers or Mavericks during these next couple of years in which a Kings title remains viable.