According to Sam Amick in The Bee, Ron Artest was at the Kings practice facility in the wee hours of Friday morning, and he could be back with the team as soon as Sunday against Denver.

Geoff Petrie was noncommittal in his stance. Amick seems to have other sources who say Sunday is a real possibility, or possibly Petrie is saying that to him without wanting to be quoted.

I'm not opposed to Ron coming back if that's what his teammates and the coaching staff want. But it would've smarter to keep his return under wraps until the upcoming road trip. Why risk a huge backlash at home for a national game?

If Ron practices with the team today or it's otherwise released that he'll play Sunday, expect The Bee's columnists and Sacramento's TV stations to spontaneously combust tomorrow morning.