Sterling's Lawyer Tells NBA That Banned Owner Will Not Pay $2.5M Fine

Banned Clippers Owner Donald Sterling's lawyer, Maxwell Blecher, in a letter to the NBA wrote that Sterling "won't pay" the $2.5M fine levied against him by the league for his racist remarks. Blecher also wrote that Sterling "doesn't warrant 'any punishment at all' for his racist comments" (USA TODAY, 5/16). Any lawsuit by Sterling against the NBA "would face a daunting task, as Sterling contractually agreed to follow the NBA's system of justice" (SI.com, 5/15).

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said he had “nothing definitive to say” about his possible interest the Clippers. Ballmer: "Am I right on top of what's going on there? Absolutely I am. ... I'd love to participate at some point in the NBA. If the opportunity is outside of Seattle, so be it. ... If I get interested in the Clippers, it would be for Los Angeles. ... Moving them anywhere else would be value destructive" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/16).