The NBA is exploring its options for taking the Clippers from Donald Sterling. Since he looks to be dug in and hell bent on suing, they are looking at “disenfranchising” the team so that they can get rid of Sterling quicker according to RealGM:
The NBA is reportedly considering “disenfranchising” the Los Angeles Clippers, according to a report on CNN.
Normally when a franchise owner is disenfranchised, the owner keep the underlying business.
If Donald Sterling is disenfranchised, however, he and his wife lose the Clippers and the NBA would take over the team.
The couple will continue to jointly own the trust, and the trust will no longer own the team. Likewise, any potential divorce proceedings likely would not affect the league’s ability to transfer ownership of the team away from the trust.
In my opinion, this is a nuclear option that the NBA must at least keep on the table if they want to force cooperation from Donald and Shelly Sterling. Since Donald looks like he wants to and has a history of playing hardball, the league needs to do the same. This battle is far from over.