Clippers owner Donald Sterling under fire after alleged racist remarks.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Magic Johnson and his billionaire backers want the chance to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers.
The franchise has been drowning in controversy this weekend, after current owner Donald Sterling was caught on an audio recording making racist remarks during a conversation with his girlfriend.
While the players held a silent protest ahead of Game 4 of their opening round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, they also wore black armbands, wristbands and socks in a show of solidarity against their owner.
Further, current coach Doc Rivers said he will have to think about his future at the organisation beyond this summer, if indeed Sterling remains in his position.
However, that may not happen depending on the punishment handed out by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, with many insisting that this is the first real test of his leadership and that he must suspend Sterling immediately.
It is expected that action will be taken before Game 5 which is back in Los Angeles later this week, but reports have emerged that Johnson would be interested in purchasing the Clippers.
Backed by a wealthy investment group, the Guggenheim Partners, Johnson has already enlisted their financial muscle in acquiring the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While his move for the Lakers’ rivals would undoubtedly create some discontent given his previous ties with the purple and gold half of the city, it has been suggested that it would be the perfect move for the NBA in moving on from the controversy.
“This is 100 percent Magic’s plan,” a league official intimately involved in the buying and selling of franchises told Yahoo Sports.
Johnson has been amongst the number of former players, coaches and experts to hit out at Sterling and call for him to be removed from the league, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will successfully complete a takeover in the coming months.
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