ESPN.com is reporting that Grant Hill, Oprah Winfrey, and Magic Johnson are potential buyers of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise.  The article mentions Oprah potentially pairing with Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and Magic Johnson potentially joining the same group from Guggenheim Partners that bought the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.  While Grant Hill's interest in buying the team is an interesting and exciting development, Grant Hill doesn't have enough money to buy the team on his own.  He would have to pair with wealthy partners.

When it comes to sports franchises like those in the NFL, the NBA, and in Major League Baseball, owners of the other clubs have to approve a sale.  Remember, the MLB rebuffed Mark Cuban a few years ago when he was interested in purchasing the Chicago Cubs.

NBA owners will want the Clippers to command a high sale price, because the sale price of the Clippers franchise will affect the valuation of the remaining franchises, much like the sale of a house in the neighborhood affects the value of the remaining houses in the neighborhood.  NBA owners also will frown on a consortium that is too large, because they will prefer to have a single, clearly identifiable majority owner who has authority to make decisions on behalf of the team rather than a glorified general manager who answers to an absentee owner or group of owners.

Among the potential owners that have indicated interest, the NBA is likely to favor Yao Ming.  Yao's purchase would help build interest in the NBA in China, where Kobe Bryant is popular as well.

Although Oprah Winfrey would generate buzz, and is fantastic at promoting her brands, I don't ever recall seeing Oprah at an NBA game  -- even when Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan were the toast of Chicago.  NBA owners will want the Clippers owner to be someone who is committed to building the value of the Clippers over the long term.  They will be fearful that Oprah will quickly lose interest in the franchise after the media interest dies down, much like Oprah seemed to lose interest in her satellite radio venture with XM Radio several years ago.

All that aside, here's hoping that Grant Hill manages to successfully bid for the team with a consortium.  Magic Johnson is so clearly identified with the Lakers, it would be odd for him to buy the Clippers and then wind up being the Lakers' principal competitor in Los Angeles.

Watch closely to see who partners with Grant Hill to make a bid for the team.  It needs to be someone with plenty of cash, and with a pedigree that makes the other NBA owners comfortable.  If Grant Hill could get someone like Facebook exec Sheryl Sandberg to join his consortium, that would add the cash and sizzle factor NBA owners will crave as they attempt to expand the NBA brand internationally.