Not until recently did it become likely that Ron Artest will start that season with the Kings.

Trading Artest is not the priority it once seemed, Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie has made it known, and the executive is of the belief that the latest circumstances facing Artest may be setting him up for a productive and controversy-free year.  

"I think he's really focused on coming back and having a terrific all-around season," Petrie said. "He's going to miss his first seven games, but after that I think he'll be ready to roll."

While trade talks have quieted for the moment and Artest is content to remain with the Kings, he no longer seems concerned about controlling every aspect of his fate. If a trade happened, Artest said, "I wouldn't cry. I'd go out and have a great damn season."

The long-awaited hammer from the NBA came Saturday, when the league announced Artest's seven-game suspension that will be served without pay at the start of the 2007-08 season.

But the fixing, Artest said, has begun anew.

His family life is back in order, Artest said. He is back with his wife, Kimsha, though his children will attend school in Indiana this fall.

That's where Artest and his family spent most of the summer, living in the Zionsville home he had while playing for the Pacers.

"I know he's working on the other things in his life that he has to deal with now, his probation, (anger-management) counseling and this upcoming suspension, but I think his focus (next season) will be on basketball and trying to have a good year," Petrie said. "Coming into this year, I think he understands the consequences of the past and I think he's going to come back and have a real good year."