Under the NBA constitution and by-laws the league can suspend or expel an owner (or anybody) for conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the league. Removing ownership rights is harder, and would be a drawn out affair. There are several bases stated in the by-laws that would justify removal of ownership (or a forced sale). This is where litigation would ensue. While all thirty NBA teams, including the Clippers, embraced Silver's findings, any basis to force the sale would be subject to litigation.

Sterling cares little for the by-laws as evidenced when he moved his team to LA without owner consent and was fined. He responded by suing the NBA.