Yao Ming & Grant Hill to Buy Clippers

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First Posted: May 26, 2014 08:16 AM EDT

From Magic Johnson to Floyd Mayweather Jr. to other high profile celebrities and billionaires, a lot of people have made it known that they are setting their eyes on acquiring the Los Angeles Clippers. And now, former Houston Rocket Yao Ming and former Los Angeles Clipper Grant Hill are the latest parties who have joined the list of big names looking to buy the controversial team.

Yao Ming and Grant Hill are vying separately to own the NBA team, although it is not yet for sale. In the meantime, Donald Sterling allowed his wife Shelly to do the transactions for the team. The NBA is also anticipating that the billionaire will launch a giant court action to attempt to regain control over the Clippers, after he was slapped with a lifetime ban from the league by Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner.

ESPN revealed that Hill is putting together a consortium to attempt to purchase the L.A. Clippers. On the other hand, Yao is working with a team of Chinese investors to buy the team. In China, Yao already owns the Shanghai Sharks. Before, Yao Ming tried to acquire the Milwaukee Bucks but withdrew when Herb Khol, former owner of the team, made it clear that the team should remain in the city.

According to Bleacher Report, 30 NBA owners will be voting on whether Donald Sterling should retain ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers on June 3, 2014.

Grant Hill is regarded as a qualified potential owner of the team, according to NBA experts. Hill played one season with the Clippers and is now retired from the NBA. He currently host of "NBA Inside Stuff."

Many experts speculate that the bidding war could begin at around $1.5 billion.

Yao Ming said, "I just heard about it in the morning my time. I really don't know where this news came from."
Although Yao and Hill are worth over $100 million each, they need the support of other investors to come up with the bidding sum, writes Fox Sports. Even Mayweather is planning to work with the Guggenheim group to prepare the full amount. Other potential purchasers include Oprah Winfrey.

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