Nocioni likely will return to backup role

Kings coach Paul Westphal just found a way to make the preseason interesting from beginning to end. And that's no easy feat. After his team's fourth day of two-a-day practices, Westphal said lightheartedly that he would announce his starting lineup one by one on a weekly basis leading up to the start of the regular season Oct. 27. Friday's declaration was about as obvious as stating where the team would play its home games, as Westphal said shooting guard Kevin Martin will retain his role in the lineup. But Westphal did reveal a more substantial development, saying he is leaning toward returning veteran small forward Andres Nocioni to the reserve role he's filled for much of his six-year career. Nocioni was the Kings' starting small forward after being traded to Sacramento from Chicago on Feb. 18. "I think it's likely we'll bring him off the bench at either the three (small forward) or the four (power forward)," Westphal said of ...