[UPDATE: Steve Ballmer: I’ll do ‘everything in my power’ to keep the Clippers in Los Angeles]
Steve Ballmer owning the Los Angeles Clippers is moving closer and closer to reality.
Sources told ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne this afternoon that the former Microsoft CEO is the current leader among those vying to buy the NBA team, which could be sold for nearly $2 billion.
Negotiations are still ongoing, but it certainly seems like Ballmer has a legitimate chance at owning an NBA team. A report today from Forbes indicates that Ballmer has offered $1.8 billion for the team, a price tag that would make it the second biggest sports acquisition in the U.S.
The 57-year-old told the Wall Street Journal earlier this week that if he does indeed purchase the Clippers, he will not move them to his current hometown of Seattle.
“I don’t work anymore, so I have more geographic flexibility than I did a year, year-and-a half ago,” he told the Journal. “Moving them anywhere else would be value destructive.”
That’s disappointing news for basketball fans in Seattle. Just one year ago, Ballmer was part of an investment team that came close to buying the Sacramento Kings franchise and bringing them to Seattle with plans to build a brand new sports arena. But Ballmer and hedge fund manager Chris Hansen ultimately lost out after an NBA committee blocked the $625 million deal.
The fact that Ballmer would keep the team in Los Angeles is a bit of a surprise, considering that the former Microsoft CEO was also part of another investment group that tried to keep the Sonics in Seattle back in 2008.
But it appears that Ballmer has more interest in simply owning a team than he does for bringing professional hoops back to Seattle. As he told the WSJ, keeping the the Clippers in L.A. is a rational business decision — there is already an adequate arena and the team ranked seventh in league attendance this season.
As my colleague John Cook outlined this morning, Ballmer purchasing and keeping the Clippers in Los Angeles could also have implications far greater than just basketball. If Ballmer ends up spending his retirement in a place other than Seattle, it would be a big blow to the tech region here. Many people assumed that Ballmer would stick around Washington and play a part in the community via philanthropy or — as many in the startup community hoped — angel investing. (See: Seattle entrepreneur starts petition asking Steve Ballmer to create $500M startup fund).
However, keep in mind that the Clippers sale is far from over. Donald Sterling, who is being forced to sell the team after in light of racist comments he made, may be racking up offers only to increase the value of the franchise:
Donald Sterling's opposition to the sale has groups concerned he's just trying to establish a value for the team, so that he can sue NBA
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 29, 2014
Meanwhile, Sterling’s wife, Shelly, appears to be in a rush to sell the team before the NBA’s Board of Governors meets next week to terminate Sterling’s ownership rights — a meeting that could be postponed if a deal is done by Tuesday.
But while Ballmer has competition from at least two other investor groups, the fact that he came narrowly close to purchasing a team last year looks to be working in his favor:
Exactly & makes Steve Ballmer plausible choice. MT @daldridgetnt Unless bidder already vetted by NBA, NBA takes month to approve new owner.
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) May 28, 2014
For what it’s worth, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has voiced his support for Ballmer owning the Clippers and keeping the team there:
The Clippers would be so fortunate to get Steve Ballmer as owner. He's a great competitive force & would bring big energy to the LAC fanbase
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 28, 2014
The Clippers would be so fortunate to get Steve Ballmer as owner. He's a great competitive force & would bring big energy to the LAC fanbase
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 28, 2014
Steve is really excited about this potential opportunity and it would be awesome for it to work out. This is a big moment for LA!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) May 28, 2014