Donald Sterling clippers' sale has finally come to fruiting after NBA Commissioner had invited the Clippers owner to make a sale himself. His wife, Shelly will presumably take care of the team sale, while Sterling relinquishes control of the team.
According to emerging reports from TMZ and and ESPN, the NBA will be able to find new owners for the LA Clippers after deliberations about a lengthy court battle.
Donald's wife, Shelly Sterling is expected to negotiate the sale of the team.
TMZ cited sources close to the story on Friday saying that Sterling has given up the organization to his wife Shelly Sterling. She will now negotiate a sale of the team on 'her teams.'
A statement by the NBA reported by the Associated Press said, ""All of these acts provide grounds for termination under several provisions of the NBA constitution and related agreements.
An official charge of Sterling on Monday by the NBA accused Donald Sterling of damaging the league and its teams. Mr. Sterling, in a recorded phone conversation told his girlfriend V. Stiviano that she should not associate with blacks or bring them to basketball games. This alluded to NBA all-star Magic Johnson who appeared with Ms. Viviano on her Instagram page.
While trying to make up for his racist comments that brought on criticism from just about every public office, including the Obama Administration, Sterling in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN made additional 'guffaws' referring to Magic Johnson's HIV status and how he was not a good influence on American kids.
An official hearing with other league owners was set for June 3, during which time they were supposed to vote for Sterling's ousting.
In the meantime, Shelly Sterling managed to acquire the rights to ownership and negotiate for ceding the Clippers to the NBA.
Friday's news reports said that Sterling was willing to relinquish control of the organization and Mrs. Sterling has expressed interest in negotiating with the NBA for a forced sale.
The move comes after previous statements that both parties would be fighting to keep the LA Clippers. Donald Sterling presumably hired antitrust lawyer Max Blecher Sterling and let the NBA know that he would not pay the $2.5 million fine, reported Sports Illustrated earlier in May.
Shelly Sterling's attorney also told The Associated Press earlier this month that Ms. Sterling would fight to keep ownership stake in the organization.
In the aftermath of Donald Sterling's racist comments, lead to the lifetime ban of Donald Sterling from the NBA, with unprecedented sanctions and a fine for $25 million against the Clippers owner, a slew of rumors followed as tweets surfaced from NBA heavy-weights.
Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, referred to Sterling's "racist comments as "deeply offensive" and "hateful," Reuters reported.
Silver acquiesced that he expects other owners in the game to get the support of Clippers owners to proceed with Sterling's lifetime ban.
"I believe the players will be satisfied with the decision," Silver said.
A Reuters report said, "The NBA conducted a three-day investigation following the leak of a recording of him telling his former mistress, V. Stiviano, that he doesn't want her bringing black people to games, among other racist statements."
Silver said in his announcement of the ban that he has forensic people have confirmed Sterling's voice on the tape and that it has not been modified. The $2.5 million is the maximum fine allotted under the Constitution of the NBA.
NBA.com updated its site with the following statement to show their solidarity in their ruling.
The Clippers updated the team website Tuesday to simply read "We Are One" and released a statement: "We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins."
The Boston Celtics managing partners said in a statement, "The entire Boston Celtics organization and our ownership group fully support the decisive action taken by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today. The Celtics stand for inclusion and equality, and we are proud to be a part of a league that shares the same values."
