Mike Malone to Coach the Sacramento Kings

No great shock here — the Sacramento Kings will replace Keith Smart with Mike Malone, who is currently the lead assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. The deal is reportedly a three-year affair with a team option for a fourth year, and worth more than $9 million over four years. Per the Sac Bee: “The deal cannot be announced until escrow closes on the sale of the team today at 5 p.m. Malone is the first major hire under the new ownership group led by Vivek Ranadive. Ranadive’s group purchased the team from the Maloof family, and the NBA approved the sale Tuesday after a bid to sell and relocate the team to Seattle was rejected. Meanwhile, the search for a new general manager is ongoing. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie will not return but continues to assist with draft preparations along with the rest of his staff. Malone will replace Keith Smart, who compiled a 48-93 record after replacing Paul Westphal early in the 2011-12 season. Malone, 42, is a highly respected assistant coach who was going to be considered for at least one high-profile opening, with the Los Angeles Clippers. So rather than wait to hire a new general manager, the Kings reached a deal with Malone. The son of former longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, Mike has served as an assistant at New York, Cleveland and New Orleans in addition to Golden State. Malone’s defensive expertise is well regarded in league circles. It was considered just a matter of time before Malone became a head coach.”