Jimmer Fredette has been slow to adapt to the NBA game during his rookie season.

"He's making a gigantic adjustment," said Kings coach Keith Smart. "People have to understand that's what he's making. He went from a guy who had the ball in his hands and could shoot the ball as many times as he wanted, to now, where he has to blend in with everyone else. He's going through what a lot of rookies have gone through."

Fredette is shooting 37.5% from the field.

"I think everyone can't put pressure on him to perform at the level he just came out of college performing. It's going to be an adjustment in the NBA, and he's going to get better," Smart said.

The Kings and the city of Sacramento have reached a tentative deal to build a new arena in the downtown railyard.

The owners of the team have agreed to pay $75 million upfront, while more than half the money would come from leasing the city's parking to a privat operator.

George Maloof pushed hardest for the Kings to move to Anaheim last year.

"We're going to have a new building, we'll be able to attract players. It will be much easier," said George Maloof.

A source briefed on negotiations, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak, said the city will contribute $200 million to $250 million to the deal.

Isaiah Thomas had 23 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in Sacramento's 93-92 loss at Cleveland on Sunday.

All of those totals marked career highs for Thomas.

"He's developing and doing a great job with his game," said Keith Smart. "We're moving the ball very well and the point of attack has been a little more secure with him playing there. I needed a director on the floor and he's been that. Two games of doing this, we've been close in both games and so the progress for him is very, very well for him and I'm proud of what he's doing. And he's given me what I needed, a lead guy on the floor to kind of direct and put people in the right spots but also be a vocal guy."

Geoff Petrie is happy with how the Kings have progressed under coach Keith Smart.

"I think we're still trying to find ourselves in some areas in terms of trying to generate more efficient offense," Petrie said. "But the structure is better; the intensity has generally been pretty good.

"It's just a process now of continuing – and I think Keith's done a great job – of working individually with our young players and trying to educate them about what he wants and what they need to do to be better players and put that together into a team concept. And I think it is showing into some results."

Smart has focused on improving Tyreke Evans’ passing while encouraging him to remain aggressive in looking for opportunities to score.

"Tyreke's had moments of brilliance in some games, and he's still trying to grow into that, and he wants to grow into it," Petrie said. "I think at some point some of these medium-range jump shots will start to go down, and that will open a lot of new avenues for him. But he wants to be good, Keith wants him to be good, we all want him to be better, he's already good."

DeMarcus Cousins has taken a league-leading 23 charges this season.

Cousins was asked how long taking charges has been a part of his game. "Since I figured out I couldn't block shots," he answered half-jokingly.

Keith Smart said Cousins’ willingness to take a charge makes opposing players hesitant to attack the rim.

"He's the best in the NBA right now as far as drawing charges," said Smart. "That's a unique skill for a big man, to be able to come over and take a charge. He's one of those guys that know how to do that.

"What that does for an opponent, a guy like Westbrook or someone like that, they know that there's a possibility that big guy's going to be waiting for me with a charge, not with a block. … With a charge, you don't get that foul back.”

The NBA has announced the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge participants on Wednesday.

Sophomores selected include DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Landry Fields (New York Knicks), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs), Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) Paul George (Indiana Pacers), and John Wall (Washington Wizards).

Freshmen selected include Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Marshon Brooks (New Jersey Nets), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves).

Seattle officials, led by hedge-fund multimillionaire Christopher Hansen, are growing increasingly optimistic that the city will approve an acceptable financing plan for a new arena, according to emails and documents released Friday.

"Thanks for spending the time today guys," Hansen wrote in a June 16 email to Julie McCoy, chief of staff to Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, and Ethan Raup, the mayor's director of policy and operations.

"I really appreciate it and look forward to making this happen in Seattle," wrote Hansen, a multimillionaire who built a fortune in the private investment world. "I genuinely mean that and am confident that with a little effort and creativity we can find a solution that meets our needs and the City's /State's desire to get a team back to Seattle without a large public outlay."

Hansen hopes to buy an NBA team and build an arena south of Safeco Field, which is home to the Seattle Mariners.

Documents show Hansen has been following developments in Sacramento, where city officials must approve a financing plan for a new arena by a March 1 deadline to keep the Kings from relocating.

If Sacramento fails to approve a workable financing plan, the Kings could be playing in Seattle next fall if the city and Hansen reach an agreement, according to one Seattle City Hall source with knowledge of the situation.

The Kings have recalled Hassan Whiteside from the D-League's Reno Bighorns.

Whiteside averaged 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and three blocks in under 20 minutes per game during 11 D-League games.

Isaiah Thomas has received more playing time for the Kings at the point guard position because of his confidence, leadership and performance on the court, Keith Smart said.

"I started to see a lot of games we were close in, there was one reason – and it was him," Smart said. "You see, when he's on the floor, the team is in a positive flow, and you've got to reward guys like that."

"My teammates help me out a lot," Thomas said. " … Being a defensive player, I don't want anybody scoring on me, so I'm going to try to do whatever I can for them not to score on me."

Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof expressed support for his head basketball decision maker.

Maloof said any reports the team is considering replacing basketball president Geoff Petrie are "totally false."

"Geoff's always been a part of the family," Maloof said. "We're in a rough stretch, but so what? Things will turn around."

After Tuesday's 93-90 loss to Golden State, the Kings are 6-15, last in the Pacific Division with the second-worst record in the Western Conference.