As the Kings navigated their way through the trade market in recent months, they pondered many possibilities, but one scenario continued to draw their attention:

Shawn Marion in Sacramento.

The Miami player known as "The Matrix" would be a one-man combo deal, offering financial flexibility because his $17 million contract expired this season but also boasting the potential to inspire a Kings pulse in the short term with his versatile and explosive talent.

But while the 11-43 Kings drew another day closer to the Feb. 19 trade deadline without doing a deal, they fell out of the Marion sweepstakes Friday when the Heat sent Marion and point guard Marcus Banks to Toronto for forward Jermaine O'Neal, small forward Jamario Moon and a future first-round pick in a trade that was first reported by The Bee.

According to league sources, the standing Kings offer to the Heat was center Brad Miller (this season at $11.3 million and next at $12.2 million) and Kenny Thomas (this season at $8.5 million and next season at $8.7 million) for Marion. Miami wanted the Kings to take back Banks, a sixth-year point guard whose contract (this season at $4.1 million, next season at $4.4 million and 2010-11 at $4.7 million) was an obstacle in the Heat-Kings dealings.

Nonetheless, there was reason to believe the Heat was always more intrigued by O'Neal than it was Miller and Thomas.

In recent weeks, the contrast became even more clear from Miami's perspective. O'Neal's play improved moderately, and Miller was shelved for six games beginning on Feb. 1 because of a strained left hip flexor. It appears his absence has made a tough situation even tougher for the Kings, who are having to convince teams that he could help their causes in spite of there being no recent evidence. The irony is that Miller has indicated the injury is far from serious, with his decision to remain out until the All-Star break partially precautionary as he saw the break in schedule as a chance to return to 100 percent.

The economic factor remains even more relevant than Miller's health for the Kings, as the financial struggles of co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have - according to sources close to the team - led them to consider only trades that do not add to the payroll. That reality could preclude them from landing the next big name expected to be traded: Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire.

While the Kings and Suns have had discussions regarding Stoudemire, the soon-to-be four-time All-Star comes with a price tag of a combined $31 million in the next two seasons (with a player option for 2010-11 worth $17.6 million). While the Kings' chances of landing Stoudemire appeared slim from the outset, it becomes a virtually impossible task when the only scenarios open for discussion involve those that send more money to Phoenix than they do to Sacramento.

What's more, that edict comes at a time when the offers being considered by Phoenix for Stoudemire are far from overwhelming.

According to league sources, Chicago and Cleveland are among the contenders. The Bulls would send Drew Gooden and his expiring contract ($7.1 million), Tyrus Thomas (this season at $3.7 million, next season at $4.7 million) and Thabo Sefolosha ($1.9 million and $2.7 million this season and next, respectively) to the Suns. The Cavaliers are believed to be offering a package including the expiring contract of Wally Szczerbiak ($13 million), Anderson Varejao ($5.7 million this season with player option worth $6.2 million for next season) and rookie forward J.J. Hickson ($1.3 million this season and $1.4 million next), although more pieces would need to be included to make that deal work.

The Kings, however, missed out on "The Matrix" and have five days left to make the most of this maze of possibilities.

Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.