The sanctions slapped on Los Angeles Clippers owner Don Sterling by the NBA almost certainly mean the end of his ownership of the team. The racist ranting of one man may do more to deliver a professional basketball to Anaheim than the city’s vain pursuit of the Sacramento Kings in 2011 and 2012.

Anaheim Ducks owner Henry Samueli is already approved to own an NBA team. He has already invested in making The Honda Center an NBA-ready arena. It’s my understanding AEG, which runs the Staples Center, would not be sad to see the Clippers, and that they could probably make more money on concerts than they do on Clippers home games.

It makes perfect sense. The city ought to be aggressively pursuing this opportunity. If it does, hopefully it will be done in a more coherent fashion than its recent dealings with the Angels.

The OC Register has stories here and here on this possibility.