Ballmer Wins Bidding For Clippers

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The Los Angeles Clippers have found a buyer. The question now is whether they have a willing seller.

An individual with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Shelly Sterling has reached an agreement to sell the franchise to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. The person said Ballmer and the Sterling Family Trust now have a binding agreement which must be presented to the NBA for approval.

Shelly Sterling negotiated the sale after her husband, Donald Sterling, made racist remarks that were made public. Commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life and asked other NBA owners to force him to sell the team.

It's unclear if the deal will go through. Donald Sterling's attorney has said his client isn't going to sell the team. However, a May 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press and written by another one of Sterling's attorneys that says that "Donald T. Sterling authorizes Rochelle Sterling to negotiate with the National Basketball Association regarding all issues in connection with a sale of the Los Angeles Clippers team."

The sale price would obliterate the NBA record of $550 million paid by Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens for the Milwaukee Bucks this year. Sterling bought the team for $12 million 33 years ago.