Meanwhile, over at the Kings' offices, you could slice the tension with a warm hunk of Velveeta. It's the day before the NBA draft, and you've seen afternoon naps with more drama.

Which brings us to today's philosophical talking point: If they hold a draft and the Kings don't come, does the thing really exist?

The employees at the decision-making levels were their usual accessible and occasionally insightful selves Wednesday, which is to say, they had plenty of time to field a phone call or two. As well they might: Barring an apocalyptic trade offer between now and draft moment, the Kings will take an 0-fer today for the first time in their local history.

Counting back to the Alpha year of 1948, this franchise in whatever form always has made a draft-day pick of some kind, be it mysterious and compelling (an unknown Peja Stojakovic in 1996), exquisite (the great Oscar Robertson in 1960) or simply absurd (Never Nervous Pervis Ellison in 1989, the No. 1 pick overall: 34 games and out forever as a King).

Not today. With the Darius Songaila deal sending Sacramento's late second-round pick to Boston, the Kings have nothing on the board at all.