UPDATE, 6:22 PM PST: Multiple outlets are now reporting that Steve Ballmer has reached an agreement to buy the Clippers, and does not need Donald Sterling's approval for the sale to go through.
UPDATE, 5:09 PM PST: Andrea Chang of the LA Times was told by Sterling's lawyer that he doesn't believe Sterling will sell the team, and the bidding process is still ongoing.
Sterling's lawyer just told me, in Sterling's driveway, "My belief is he will not sell this team."
— Andrea Chang (@byandreachang) May 29, 2014
Sterling's lawyer told me that Sterling already has "a couple billion dollars," so "he could not care less" about Ballmer's $2-billion bid.
— Andrea Chang (@byandreachang) May 30, 2014
Sterling's lawyer then said that even if the bid had been $10 billion, "it wouldn't change his life in any way." Must be nice.
— Andrea Chang (@byandreachang) May 30, 2014
Sterling's lawyer repeatedly said, "There's been no sale. There's been no sale. There can be no sale without Donald's signature."
— Andrea Chang (@byandreachang) May 30, 2014
Original article follows:
The Los Angeles Times reports that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will buy the LA Clippers for $2 billion. Ballmer, 58, retired from his position at Microsoft in February, and has an estimated net worth of $20.7 billion.
The process of selling the Clippers will no doubt be complex, as embattled owner Donald Sterling has indicated plans to fight the forced sale in a 32-page legal response to the NBA released earlier this week.
Sterling's ownership was effectively terminated by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after audio surfaced of Sterling making racist and derogatory comments about black people. The ensuing media firestorm saw sponsors cut ties with the franchise as Sterling's views were roundly condemned.
Ballmer was involved in a failed 2008 bid for the Seattle SuperSonics, and was also part of a group that tried to buy the Sacramento Kings for $500 million with a view to relocate them in Seattle. Ballmer is reportedly not planning to relocate the Clippers, and has been quoted as saying the franchise is more valuable in Los Angeles than it would be in Seattle.
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