NEW YORK — The draft lottery will remain the same. In somewhat of a shocking development Wednesday, a proposal to alter the formula for determining the top of the draft order failed to draw the 23 votes needed to pass. The vote was reportedly 17-13 in favor of changing the system, with the “No” votes being cast by Phoenix, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Utah, Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago. Under the proposal that failed to gain
The Clippers are signed, sealed and (almost) delivered. BREAKING NEWS: The NBA has agreed with Sterling Family Trust to move forward with sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Considering Donald Sterling’s history, compounded by his present condition—having been diagnosed with dementia and alzheimer’s, it seems as though the ongoing debacle that has been the Clippers’ ownership and subsequent sale may soon be coming to an end. Due to his mental condition, neurologists declared
Disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has finally found a legal battle he is unwilling to wage. Banned for life by the NBA following published racist remarks, Sterling has decided to allow his wife, Shelly, negotiate a forced sale of the team with the league, according to published reports. This comes from Ramona Shelburne, the Clippers’ beat writer for ESPNLosAngeles.com: Shelly Sterling and her lawyers have been negotiating with the NBA since her husband was banned for life by commissioner Adam Silver
The procedure to terminate Donald Sterling’s ownership of the Clippers has produced a number of amusing ironies. When the 30 NBA team executives vote on June 3, Sterling cannot vote. Even though he still owns the team, he has been banned for life under NBA bylaws. The league has appointed Dick Parsons, who once was chairman of Time-Warner, to run the Clippers. So how do you think Parsons will vote? That means Sterling’s banishment from the league will likely be by a
Three days after announcing that Clippers CEO and longtime Donald Sterling crony Andy Roeser would be taking an indefinite leave of absence, the NBA on Friday named his replacement, a black man with a long history of success in both business and politics. Effective immediately, Dick Parsons is the interim CEO of the Clippers, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced. Parsons will oversee the business side of the Clippers, who are still very much alive in the NBA playoffs. “I believe the hiring
NBA commissioner Adam Silver cannot just suspend Clippers owner Donald Sterling for the rest of the playoffs. Silver cannot just suspend Sterling for a year and drop a seven-figure fine on him the way his predecessor did to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor in 2000. Taylor broke the rules. Sterling broke the game. Silver has no choice but to suspend Sterling indefinitely, as in until he sells his team. And when Silver suspends Sterling, it is important that anyone and everyone with an opinion on
The Board of Governors (BOG) meeting in Dallas on Wednesday brings together two potential ownership groups representing two different cities. Both groups have the same goal: the acquisition of the Sacramento Kings NBA basketball franchise from current owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Wednesday’s meeting of the BOG will conclude with the league’s 30 owners voting on the proposal to relocate the Kings from Sacramento to Seattle. Both ownership groups will have an opportunity to address the Board with their proposals. [Read
Michael Heisley, who moved the Grizzlies from Vancouver to Memphis over 10 years ago, is selling the team to a group owned by communications technology executive Robert J. Pera. The team announced the sale agreement Monday in a news release that did not disclose financial terms, although ESPN.com reported the price to be $350 million. The sale is pending the approval of the NBA Board of Governors, antitrust clearance and other conditions. Heisley, 75, bought the Grizzlies in 2000, when the franchise