The long, strange saga of exiled Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling just keeps getting more complicated as the days wear on.
According to this next retweet from ESPN's Marc Stein, there is a good explanation for how it was possible for a reported sale of the team to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to take place earlier today:
MT @ramonashelburne: ESPN has learned experts had declared Donald Sterling mentally incapacitated, leaving Shelly w/power to sell the team
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) May 30, 2014
Per a report from several NBA sources, Steve Ballmer spent an estimated $2 billion to buy the Clippers early on Thursday - without Donald Sterling’s approval.
Here's ESPN's Ramona Shelburne with the details on how the transfer of power that made this possible took place:
The Sterling Family Trust had rules & guidelines about mental incapacitation. Very recently, Donald was found by experts to be incapacitated — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 30, 2014
Once that happened, Shelly became sole trustee and had power to do deal w/ Ballmer, which is now being sent directly to the NBA for approval
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 30, 2014
Shelburne makes it clear that this changes everything from a legal perspective for Sterling, who will now have to contend with his wife first before initiating any further action against the NBA:
There could still be a response by Donald Sterling & his lawyers, but his first action would be to contest Shelly's move, not NBA now. — Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 30, 2014
However, Sterling may not have a legal leg to stand on at this point:
The rules of the Sterling family trust did not require a court to declare Donald Sterling mentally incapacitated.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 30, 2014
