Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced Friday the deal to sell the Kings to a group led by Vivek Ranadive has been signed.
All that's left now is for the NBA to rubber stamp the deal, which should happen sometime next week. Once that's done, Ranadive's group will begin laying out plans for a new arena in Sacramento and likely part ways with GM Geoff Petrie and coach Keith Smart. Not only are the Kings staying put, but it looks like a new day is dawning in Sacramento.

The Kings are not expected to retain Keith Smart as head coach, according to USA Today.
With a new ownership group coming into place and the Kings facing a challenging future, it's possible Smart's tenure is over in Sacramento. After multiple player complaints about Smart's style and the Kings running an offense that resembled a fifth grade AAU team at times this season, we can't say we'd be surprised to see Smart let go. GM Geoff Petrie is also not expected to be retained, and Mike Malone is reportedly a candidate for the head coach gig.

The Maloofs have reached an agreement to sell the Kings to a group led by Vivek Ranadive that will keep the team in Sacramento for a valuation of $535 million.
It seems like an end to a never-ending saga that lasted for most of the season. While the vilified Maloofs get their money in this deal, the NBA is better for having one of the league's worst ownership groups no longer in the mix. Kevin Johnson has been spearheading the movement to keep the Kings and obviously won't be voted out of his position any time soon. The Kings finished at 28-54 last season, but their fans couldn't be happier to have their team remaining in Sacramento.