If you are a Sacramento Kings fan, you are probably overjoyed that there will be a next season.
The Maloofs are finally gone! Kings fans everywhere rejoiced and cried tears of joy when they learned that the team wouldn’t be moving to Seattle. The team was sold to TIBCO CEO Vivek Ranadive for a record setting $535 million. After the team was in Ranadive’s hands, changes started popping up everywhere.
These new improvements varied from new owners, to new coaches and trainers, to new players, and even little improvements in the arena the Kings currently play in, Sleep Train Arena, such as pot holes in the parking lot being filled, improved wifi at the arena, and a Kings app for smart phones and tablets.
With a new ownership group led by majority owner Vivek Ranadive, Mark Mastrov, Shaquille O’Neal, and many other figures, this city knew change was imminent, and Ranadive meant business.
One of Ranadive’s first moves as majority owner of the Kings was releasing head coach from last season Keith Smart, and replacing him with Mike Malone from the Golden State Warriors.
Along with Malone, the Kings were also able to sign power forward Carl Landry of the Warriors.
Small forward Tyreke Evans was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in return for point guard Greivis Vasquez, whom led the league last year in total assists.
The Kings were able to sign Luc Mbah a Moute of the Milwaukee Bucks, a small forward notable for his lock down defense.
The next move the Kings made was drafting shooting guard Ben McLemore from Kansas University with the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Considered a steal in the draft by many, McLemore has shown flashes of greatness throughout the summer league and preseason. McLemore has much athleticism and is a streaky sharp shooter. He has evevn been in early rookie of the year talks.
In the second round of the 2013 NBA draft, the Kings selected point guard Ray McCallum with the 36th pick. Overlooked by many teams, McCallum may just as well be a steal too. He has shown a great amount of potential for a second rounder and will most likely get his fair share of minutes during the season.
The last ‘big’ move the Kings made this off season was extending franchise cornerstone DeMarcus Cousins to a 4 year $62 million dollar contract.
These last few years have been very dry and dark, but with the new ownership group in place, the culture in Sacramento is changing one step at a time. Don’t expect a championship run for awhile, but at least us Kings fans can finally know we are headed in the right direction. The future for Sacramento is very bright.
