NBA Waiting on “Necessary Documentation” from Rochelle Sterling in Clippers Deal

The league will go ahead with a planned June 3 meeting in an effort to resolve the Donald Sterling scandal

The NBA confirmed in a statement Friday that it has been notified of a proposed sale of the Los Angles Clippers to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and that the league is waiting for "necessary documentation" as owners prepare for a key meeting next week.

The statement did not provide details about the agreement.

"Commissioner (Adam) Silver has consistently said the preferred outcome to the Clippers proceeding would be a voluntary sale of the team," according to the statement. "Shelly Sterling advised the NBA last night that an agreement had been reached with Steve Ballmer, and the NBA Advisory/Finance Committee met via conference call this morning to discuss these developments. We await the submission of necessary documentation from Mrs. Sterling.  In the meantime, the June 3 special meeting of the NBA Board of Governors remains as scheduled."

Ballmer agreed to buy the team from censured owner Donald Sterling for $2 billion, he announced Thursday. Ballmer signed a binding contract with Shelly Sterling, who was acting as sole trustee of the Sterling family trust, which owns the team.

The purchase, which would be the priciest team acquisition in the league's history, must be approved by the 29 other team owners. It was not immediately clear whether a vote would occur during the June 3 meeting, which was scheduled to vote on whether to sustain charges against Sterling that he damaged the league by disparaging black people in a recorded conversation with a companion.

An attorney for Sterling told NBC News that he has not agreed to sell the Clippers. A vote of three-fourths of the NBA's owners would force a sale.

The bid surpasses the previous record for an NBA team of $550 million, paid this month for the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a terrific owner," Rochelle Sterling said Thursday. "We have worked for 33 years to build the Clippers into a premiere NBA franchise. I am confident that Steve will take the team to new levels of success."

Control of the team was handed over the Rochelle Sterling last week, allowing her to negotiate a deal.
The Sterling family bought the LA Clippers in 1981 for $12 million.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson, criticized by Donald Sterling in the recorded conversation and later in a CNN interview, tweeted: "Steve Ballmer owning the Clippers is a big win for the City of LA and all the people who live in the City of Angels!"

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The proposed sale marks an key phase in a process that began last month when Silver announced a life-time ban and $2.5 million fine for the 80-year-old Sterilng after the recording came to light. Sterling's racist comments led to calls for fan boycotts and backlash from current and former NBA players and Clippers sponsors.
 

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