The Los Angeles Clippers are dealing with a tough situation with Donald Sterling and now Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and head coach Doc Rivers could boycott next season if he remains owner, as ESPN.com is reporting that Paul and Rivers have spoken about it already and if there is another major holdup in the sale of the Clippers, it could be a major development if players boycott and there is also a chance they could ask for trades.
ESPN.com reports that Paul has spoken to Rivers about a potential boycott if Sterling remains the owner and right now that is up in the air, as the Sterling's are in court battling about the sale of the team to Steve Ballmer. Paul and Griffin are two of the biggest stars in the NBA and this would be a major hit for the league and the team if they boycott. Rivers and Paul along with other players thought about that last season in the playoffs when the Sterling tapes came out, but they decided against that once the NBA came down hard on him. Now it could be coming up again.
Paul mentioned Blake Griffin and Jordan in his quote about the possibility of boycotting and now things could start getting real as the summer pushes on. The sides are in court arguing about whether Shelly Sterling had the right to sell to Ballmer and the price is $2 billion, so obviously Donald Sterling is suing just to sue because he is a horrible person. Interim Clippers CEO Dick Parsons said in court in testimony that Rivers said he would have to think about sitting out or leaving if Sterling remains owner.
The NBA can take control and will go with termination proceedings based on their rules in September, but if the courts make a decision that affects things, it could force Paul and Griffin to sit out. Paul is president of the Players Union and that puts him in a position of power and also one where he has leadership and here he is showing it. Training camps don't open until October, so there is still time to get things done, but the word boycott is not something the NBA wants to hear.
Closing arguments in the case come next week and the Clippers are coming back after making a decent run in the playoffs. Sterling has been under fire since his tapes came out and now the NBA may have to find a way to convince the group to keep playing.
"That's something me and Doc are both talking about," Paul said Thursday after coaching his AAU program, CP3. "Something has to happen, and something needs to happen soon -- sooner rather than later."
