[Mr. BasketballParticipant]

Source: Geffen eyes control of Clippers (ESPN)

Would LeBron James be willing to play for the Los Angeles Clippers if Donald Sterling no longer owned the team? Billionaire entertainment mogul David Geffen wants to find out.

A source close to the situation confirmed a New York Post report that Geffen is interested in purchasing a majority share of the Clippers — and that the long-shot attempt to convince Sterling to cede operating control of the team is among the reasons James and close friend Maverick Carter were in Los Angeles over the weekend.

Sterling has insisted for nearly three decades that he will never sell the franchise. But the New York Post reported in Tuesday’s editions that Geffen — who already has a working relationship with James and Carter — has expressed interest in buying a 51 percent stake in the Clippers.

James was invited to watch Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Geffen’s seats, sources confirmed, but he ultimately elected not to attend Boston’s eventual 103-94 victory, fearful of the spectacle his courtside presence would create at a time that James’ impending free agency has routinely drawn media attention away from the playoffs.

Yet Carter, who handles the bulk of James’ business dealings, was seen at the game with Geffen.

“Mr. Sterling has never expressed a desire to sell any part of his team,” Clippers president Andy Roeser told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. “Because it is an asset of remarkable value, it’s true that there have been countless inquiries over the years. But the Clippers have never been for sale.”

The Clippers, to this point, have not been seriously mentioned along with teams such as Chicago, New York and New Jersey as a viable threat to lure James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency. That’s despite the fact that the Clippers can offer him a promising group of potential sidekicks — led by All-Star center Chris Kaman, forward Blake Griffin and guards Eric Gordon and Baron Davis — as well as proximity to the many off-court business opportunities that only Hollywood can provide.

The [New York] Post reported that Geffen has been chasing the Clippers “for quite some time” and told Sterling at a dinner last Friday that “he can deliver LeBron as long as he’s calling the shots.”

But the reason the Clippers have not been mentioned as a serious suitor is no mystery. Sources say that the Clippers won’t factor into James’ thinking as long as they continue to be run by Sterling, whose increased willingness to spend over the past decade has done little to change his reputation as one of the league’s worst owners.

Geffen, by contrast, is another wildly successful businessman who, like investor Warren Buffett, appears to have quickly secured James’ respect. As a record executive, film and theatrical producer and one of three co-founders of DreamWorks Studios, Geffen has a net worth estimated at $4.6 billion by Forbes Magazine.

The Post reported that Geffen has been chasing the Clippers “for quite some time” and told Sterling at a dinner last Friday that “he can deliver LeBron as long as he’s calling the shots.”

Sterling, however, has not only resisted any attempt to purchase the team but declined repeated invitations from cities such as Anaheim to move the franchise out of Los Angeles and away from the Lakers’ considerable shadow.

The Times also confirmed Geffen’s interest in buying into the Clippers, quoting “multiple sources” on its website Tuesday, but said that “not all sources” put the stake Geffen covets at 51 percent.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5264616

i don’t care if he would get lebron or not, all i care about is that he would get rid of Donald Sterling. Everything in Clipperland would change.

[HotSnotParticipant]

If your comparing the Bulls and Clippers existing rosters as of today… The Clippers are actually much more likely to win a championship (with Lebron) sooner then the bulls are.

Clips Davis, Gordon, Lebron, Griffin and Kaman. 2 guards who can get to the hoop. A center who can score and plays passable defense. Griffin at PF who by all accounts seems very likely to be a 20-10 guy out of the gate this season. Davis gets it done in the playoffs and you know he will be uber motivated playing this season with Lebron and Griffin. Outside shooting might be a touch weak but I’m sure they’ll get by. The clips would have a big, strong, fast and nasty team. Every player is oversized at their positions. Gordon is abit shorter but still huge. Thats a scary lineup. If it doesn’t really gel, Gordon and Kaman still have great trade value on the market and Davis aint that bad himself when motivated.

Bulls Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Lebron and Noah? Lebron at the four? He can definitly do it but he’s really played the SF role his whole career. Noah can’t score in the post but his defense is above average. No true SG. Ben Gordon and Salmons are gone. No one to create their own offense other then Rose.

LA is also a much bigger market for Lebron’s business opportunities. Clips also have a high lotto pick again.

Clips are in better shape then the Bulls as currently constructed.

[bigblackNbeautifulParticipant]

Then I feel the clip would have to draft patterson to add depth up front and sign a korver to play next to lebron. I feel korver should be talked to by lebron to follow him cause he need shooters to play with

[Mr.BigShotParticipant]

Lebron will never go to L.A., I just can’t see it happening one city two of the best players?

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I heard about this on Pardon the Interruption.

LeBron had a love affair with the Knicks all season. It’s been the Bulls since the season ended. I guess, now it’s the Clippers’ turn.

Regardless of if LeBron comes or not… Sterling needs to sell the team. He’s an awful owner.

[Durantula-35Participant]

This is what Neil Everett knew all along

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

David Geffen has no personal interest in owning the Clippers, but his boyfriend Jeremy Lingvall has urged him to look into purchasing a minority stake, according to a source that spoke with SportsByBrooks.

Geffen did meet with Maverick Carter on Sunday, but the Clippers was not the main subject of conversation, according to a source.

Read more: http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67084/20100608

two things i find funny bout this… this dudes a queen for one… and tom cruise is one of his good friends…

[FDAPO]

If LeBron is smart he needs to either sign with the Clippers or the Bulls.

[TRC1991Participant]

i’m like a kid on christmas day…where will LeBron end up!?!?

[Author]

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