MINNEAPOLIS – It was a Brad Miller beard, so you knew right away there would be no trims or manicures.

Just untouched, untended brown hair, with a sloppiness that suited his good-old-boy persona and a few grays hiding in the follicle forest to remind Miller of his age (32). But as the Kings' regular season begins today at Minnesota, the 11-year veteran who is suspended for the first five games will sport a recently shaved face and a short haircut better suited to soldiers than centers.

This is, after all, about cleaning up his act.

After violating the league's drug policy for a third time late last season because of marijuana infractions and drawing the subsequent summer punishment, Miller has done that much. He entered training camp in similar shape to the previous summer, refusing to let the incident set him back mentally or physically and certainly not willing to revert to his out-of-shape form from the summer of 2006. He performed when asked during the exhibition season, helping the team's younger core with a new offensive system and often yielding to second-year center Spencer Hawes out of necessity for what was to come.

He spent the last 10 days changing his conditioning schedule, spending much more time on the cardio machines to ensure he's ready when he returns. Now, however, he can only wait. While Miller will travel with the team on its four-game trip and attend morning shootarounds, he is banished from arenas come game time.

"At least I've got some friends in Miami, friends in Orlando, friends in Minnesota," Miller said. "I'll go to (morning) shootaround and shoot with the guys, get a workout in.

"I'm looking forward to getting good practices in, and I'll just have to wait for my time. I'll be as giddy as I've ever been for that home game against Minnesota (on Nov. 7)."

For all the angst Miller caused himself, the Kings hadn't paid their part of the price until now. Hawes will bear Miller's burden against some of the league's best big men on the inaugural getaway, from Timberwolves forward Al Jefferson to Miami forward and No. 2 draft pick Michael Beasley to Orlando's Dwight Howard and Philadelphia's Elton Brand. Having started slow in the exhibition season, Hawes couldn't have finished much better after his 25-point, 16-rebound outburst against Houston on Thursday.

Asked if he thought Hawes were ready for the challenge, Miller said, "It doesn't matter at this point. He's as ready as he's going to be. Hopefully, he took a lot of positives out of that last preseason game (against Houston). (The rebounds are) what I liked the best. Hopefully, he carries that through."

Kings coach Reggie Theus said he is hesitant to place too much pressure on Hawes, but the correlation between the 20-year-old's performance and the Kings starting strong is unavoidable.

"For us to be successful, Spence has to play well," he said. "I feel very confident in our chances against Minnesota if Spence plays well. He's going to have to carry a load. It's going to be tough. It's going to be physical. We've got a lot of big guys in (the trip), too. It's going to be a tough job."

While Hawes' offensive skills were on full display against the Rockets, his rebounding was and will be the most vital aspect of his play. The Kings' developing up-tempo style depends greatly on their ability to control the glass, so much so that Theus is considering an unorthodox lineup to aid that cause. He said he might occasionally play 6-foot-10 rookie forward Jason Thompson at small forward, a move that's possible only because of Thompson's ability to run the floor well.

While the Kings must wait nearly two weeks to welcome back Miller, they regain the services of Beno Udrih tonight. The point guard missed the last two exhibition games with a strained left hip flexor and said he is ready to help make up for Miller's absence.

"He's a big part of this team," Udrih said. "Hopefully, we get a couple wins even without him, and when he comes back, he'll be in good shape, and we just go from there."

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