Success stories don't usually apply to teams that aren't in the playoffs, but the Kings may indeed qualify.

Despite missing out on the postseason for the second straight year, they wrapped up their regular season with a record of 38-44 that was at or above the predictions of most pundits back in October. More notably, they finished by winning 11 of their last 20 games and reversing the tragic finish of 2006-07 when they were 5-17 at the end. Yet what those soothsayers didn't see coming was the never-ending string of distractions and hurdles the Kings would have to overcome to still manage a level of respectability.

Days before the regular season began, they lost point guard Mike Bibby to a thumb injury that kept him out for half the season. Kevin Martin and Ron Artest missed long stretches with injuries, and Bibby was eventually traded to Atlanta on Feb. 16 as first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus was forced to adjust on the fly once again.

Looking ahead, the Kings have a handful of questions that must be answered before they can continue the rebuilding process. First and foremost is Artest's future, as the small forward can opt out of his contract but has indicated he likely won't. The Kings will also look to re-sign point guard Beno Udrih, who impressed with his play after he was signed as an emergency fill-in for Bibby.

They will be stuck in quite a predicament in regards to the draft, as the uncertainty around the futures of Udrih and Artest means they must weight the potential need to fill those spots with the temptation to simply go for the best talent available with their lottery pick. Yet without question, this was a season of progress.

Rookie center Spencer Hawes developed nicely at the season's end, as did most of the team's other young talents. There was success, if only incremental, all around.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
The lack of any real playoff hopes for most of the season made this a season of mini-highlights, and none was better than the play of Kings center Brad Miller.

The 10-year veteran returned from the worst season of his career by losing 25 pounds and playing like his old self again, thrilling the Kings' fans with an aggressive offensive game and avoiding a repeat of what was a humbling 2006-07 campaign. His points went from nine per game to 13.4, while his rebounding averages jumped from 6.4 to 9.4 and Miller was among the league's most improved players.

TURNING POINT
When the Kings arrived in Memphis on Feb. 12, they were just three games under .500 and had won 11 of their last 17 games.

But the momentum all came to a screeching halt with an inexcusable 107-94 loss to the Grizzlies. As the season wore on, it would become a fatal trend for the Kings, who showed an ability to beat some of the league's best teams but also fell far too many times to some of the worst. That loss was the second game in a stretch in which they lost 10 of 14 games and lost any realistic chance of keeping up in the incredible Western Conference race.

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