Good morning, the Donald Sterling saga might be over
That and much more in our NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
DING DONG: The Sterling saga is dead. (We think.) On Monday, the judge ruled against Donald Sterling’s bid to reverse his wife’s takeover of the family trust and sale of the Clippers to Steve Ballmer. Even better: it appears that an appeal by Sterling can’t slow or stop the sale. This might actually be resolved! Clips Nation reacts.
UNION HEAD: So the NBA players’ union has a new executive director: D.C.-based lawyer Michele Roberts. But this is the NBA players’ union, so of course the whole process was filled with acrimony and drama. Jerry Stackhouse, who is on the union’s executive committee, got kicked out of the meeting before the vote!
From Woj: “The process was littered with the NBPA’s usual dysfunction, including a late bid by player agents to push back the vote and further study the finalists - or possibly dump them all together.” Plus, there’s this.
WELP: Blake Griffin pulled out of Team USA duty because of a back fracture. He’s expected to recover by the beginning of the NBA season.
INTERESTING: Kirk Goldsberry presents free agency graphically.
WRONG DIRECTION: I wrote about the three lottery teams who didn’t improve this offseason. As you’ll see in the comments section, there is disagreement.
POP THE GRINCH: The Spurs have prevented Manu Ginobili from playing one last tournament (the FIBA World Cup) with Argentina. BOO. This should not be NBA teams’ decision. Players get paid for their work October through April, May or June. I understand “no motorcycles” clauses and the like, but if guys want to represent their country in major basketball tournaments in the offseason, let them. The Spurs sure didn’t have a problem let Manu play while nicked up for them.
GREG MONROE’S PARADOX: Jim Cavan on why Moose is still hanging out in restricted free agency.
SPEAKING OF WHICH ... Zach LaVine is not wired like a normal human. Dude can fly.
NOPE: Gripping long read by one of our greatest sportswriters, Chris Ballard, on a tandem skydive gone horribly wrong.
Happy Tuesday. See you next time.
