The Sacramento City Council voted to approve the deal for a $448 million arena to be located at Downtown Plaza.

The 7-2 vote approves a non-binding 'term sheet' calling for a $258 million public subsidy.

The vote sets up a pivotal April 3 meeting in New York, when a committee of NBA owners will hear presentations from delegations from Sacramento and Seattle. All the league's owners will meet April 18 and 19 to vote on the matter.

"This is a good day for Sacramento," said Mayor Kevin Johnson. "We are on track to do something very historic."

Kings fans in attendance, in their white "Crown Downtown" T-shirts, cheered wildly and stood, chanting, "Sacramento!"

DeMarcus Cousins has avoided suspension for delivering a right elbow to Mike Dunleavy's head on Sunday.

Cousins is expected to miss Wednesday's game due to left leg pain, but he will still draw his salary.

Cousins has had several incidents this season both on and off the floor this season.

Across the Sacramento Kings locker room, players are not sure whether DeMarcus Cousins will ever figure out how to control his emotions on a consistent basis.

Cousins was ejected for throwing an elbow on Sunday, and his teammates admit they are unsure how much more advice and guidance the young big man needs.

"You can give a person as much advice as you can," Jason Thompson said. "From us, to coaches, to Hall of Famers, to whatever. But at the end of the day you're in this league because you're a grown man, you've going to do what you want to do."

Isaiah Thomas believes Cousins will get over this obstacle at some point.

"I hope. I don't know what it's going to take. I hope so. He's a helluva player, one of the best big men in the league. He has to be smarter in certain situations so one day so I hope it does click or something but I think it's in his control. It's in nobody's control but himself. And I think it will click, hopefully soon."

NBA commissioner David Stern believes the Mark Mostrov-Ron Burkle group's proposal to keep the Kings in Sacramento has legitimate support but must be increased to seriously challenge the offer from a Seattle group.

"[The Sacramento group has] strong people behind it but not quite there compared to Seatle bid," Stern said Friday.

Stern added he expects a comparable offer from the Sacramento group at some point while making clear the bid is not there yet.

Stern also does not expect expansion to the NBA any time soon.

Kevin Johnson's Think Big Sacramento task force revealed a collection of statistics making the case that the city offers an NBA franchise a better TV and radio market with broader fan support.

Mayoral adviser Chris Lehane said Sacramento drew more fans than Seattle in 20 of the 23 years that both cities were in the NBA.

Seattle is a bigger city with a stronger corporate base, but Sacramento has the advantage of a complete sports monopoly. The NBA has been successful in cities such as Portland and Salt Lake City where they are effectively 'the only game in town'.

Aaron Brooks will sign with the Houston Rockets assuming he clears waivers as expected, according to sources.

Brooks will be eligible for the postseason.

Brooks signed a two-year, $6.6 million deal with the Kings last offseason.

Brooks was previously a member of the Rockets before a 2011 trade sent him to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragic.

The Sacramento Kings have agreed to a buyout with Aaron Brooks.

Brooks will be eligible for the playoffs.

“I’d like to thank the great city of Sacramento, the Sacramento Kings Organization, coaching staff and most of all the fans that supported this leg of my journey,” Brooks said in a pair of tweets. “I enjoyed my time with the Kings and wish them success in the future.” 

Sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! that Brooks will likely sign with the Rockets after clearing waivers.

A new proposal from 24/7 Fitness founder Mark Mastrov and billionaire Ron Burkle to purchase the Sacramento Kings and challenge a Seattle group has "a shot," according to a source.

"It's still a long shot, but the bid will be close enough to cause real debate," the source said.

The bid is "slightly lower" than the $341 million that the Chris Hansen-Steve Ballmer group has agreed to pay for the available 65 percent of the Kings, the source said.

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson made it clear that the city is still a strong presence to keep the Kings.

"We are still very much in this game," Johnson said in a speech. "I hope Seattle gets a team someday. Let me be crystal clear: It's not going to be this team. Not our team. No way."