You can never predict what Ron Artest will say next. We all know this. That is probably why, despite two months of "I'm not opting out" talk, we aren't surprised when a report like this one from HOOPSWORLD hits the wire:

Multiple sources tell HOOPSWORLD that Ron Artest is seriously considering opting out of the final year of his contract.  Artest can stick with the Sacramento Kings for one final year at $7.4 million or choose to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Should Artest choose to opt out, he would likely look for a full Mid Level Exception (MLE) deal with a championship contender such as the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs or even the New Orleans Hornets.

Good news? Bad news? It's somewhere in between, for sure. An opt-out doesn't grant Sacramento any magical cap space, with or without Beno. And while it shouldn't necessarily affect the draft in a major way, it certainly keeps Petrie's seat shifting.

Stay tuned. Thirteen more days, possibly 13 additional different reports.