Weird and complicated story, but here it is:
The Clippers and Lakers have played in the same arena -- Staples Center (in downtown LA) for two decades.
The Clippers want their own arena, and owner Steve Ballmer wants to build one in Inglewood. Inglewood is the location where the Lakers used to play, at The Forum.
And while Ballmer is buying The Forum, he doesn't plan for the Clippers to play there.
Confused yet?
See, MSG (yes, THAT MSG, owned by James Dolan) cried foul about the planned new Arena. They currently own The Forum, and claimed that the new Clippers arena will violate a non-compete agreement they have with Inglewood.
No NBA basketball has been played at The Forum since the Lakers left 20 years ago, but MSG argued that other events held at the new Clippers arena would compete with them.
Ballmer finally got tired of it, and agreed to buy The Forum from MSG for $400m, clearing the way to build their arena, since there will be no more competition.
Dolan did really well. He bought the run-down Forum for $23.5 million in 2012, and then spent about $75m renovating it. Now he's selling it for $400m, quadrupling his money. If only he were this good at running the Knicks!
I don't understand why Ballmer was so obsessed with building in Inglewood. It's a lousy area, and he could have built in another city without having to cough up $400m for the Forum (which isn't worth it).
I guess money is no object with that guy.