Just how valuable of a franchise are the Los Angeles Clippers? Enough to command offers for more than $2.5 billion, apparently.
NBC Los Angeles reporter Robert Kovacik said on Tuesday that Donald Sterling has been offered in excess of $2.5 billion for the Clippers.
#BREAKING: #DonaldSterling lawyer tells @NBCNews #Clippers owner "…has received offers in excess of $2.5B" for the team.
— Robert Kovacik (@RobertNBCLA) May 27, 2014
As we said late last week, the NBA is essentially forcing the Sterlings to sell the team. Donald reportedly has agreed to let wife Shelly organize the sale, so she is now entertaining offers for the franchise.
Though the $2.5 billion figure sounds astounding — and this could just be the lawyer bs’ing everyone to drive up the price — don’t be shocked if the price tag ends up that high. The Dodgers sold for $2 billion two years ago. Though the Clippers don’t have anywhere near the history of the Dodgers, they’re a big-market team in a celebrity-filled city and have shown a long history of being profitable. Plus, the team is loaded with talent and has had a ton of recent success. You add all that up and factor in all the demand for the franchise — everyone from Floyd Mayweather to Oprah to Frankie Muniz expressed interest in owning the team — and you know the price is going to skyrocket.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they sold for well over $2.5 billion.
