After a ruling Monday siding with Donald Sterling's estranged wife Shelly Sterling on the issue of the right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers, the team is eager for former Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steven Ballmer to step in as the new owner.

Los Angeles Supreme Court Judge Michael Levanas sided with Shelly who negotiated the sale of the Clippers franchise to Ballmer for an eye-popping US$ 2 billion. Current Clippers' owner Donald Sterling was trying to block the sale from happening citing that she didin't have the authority to sell the team.

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The NBA issued a lifetime ban on Sterling for making racist remarks that was recorded and released to the public last April. NBA players have condemned Sterling and sponsors have pulled out.

"The Clippers would suffer a massive loss of value," Levanas said.

But now, the Clippers will enjoy an owner who is not afraid to spend compared to that of a frugal Sterling who was considered to be one of the worst owners in sports.

"We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible," said National Basketball Association (NBA) spokesman Mike Bass in a statement.

The transaction could all be completed in two weeks.

Ballmer, lives in Seattle, Washington but unlike the first time he tried to buy a franchise, the Sacramento Kings, he said that he will not move the team to Seattle.

The Clippers have shown massive improvements last season. They won 57 games and claimed the Pacific Division title two years running. They also surpassed the Los Angeles Lakers' record, having won a record-breaking 142-94 win last March, the most lopsided victory for the franchise.

With All-Star players like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in its roster plus big man DeAndre Jordan, the team defeated the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Western Conference Finals four games to three before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the next round.

TagsDonald Sterling, chris paul, blake griffin, deandre jordan, steven ballmer