The Clippers' lease at Staples Center ends in 2024, and owner Steve Ballmer has vowed to explore alternatives.
The organization has taken preliminary steps toward the splashiest alternative _ owning and operating its own arena in the Los Angeles area.
The organization has interest in at least three areas _ the Westside of Los Angeles, Inglewood near the new home of the Rams and downtown Los Angeles.
Orange County doesn't appear to be an option at this time.
ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz first reported the Clippers' exploration.
A spokesperson for the Clippers declined to comment, but the team's dissatisfaction with its current situation is no secret. The Clippers and Lakers are the only NBA teams that share an arena, with the NHL's Kings also calling Staples Center home.
From the Clippers' decision to cover the Lakers' championship banners during home games to the griping about the weekend afternoon start times, life as the third tenant at Staples Center has come with problems.
The Clippers locker room, which was significantly smaller than that of the Lakers, is being renovated and expanded this summer.
They also are missing out on the financial benefits of owning and operating their own arena.
Ballmer has rejected the suggestion the Clippers might move out of town. After paying $2 billion for the team in 2014, he has insisted that value was largely dependent on the team's location in Los Angeles.
At the GeekWire Sports Tech Summit in Seattle earlier this month, Ballmer doubled down on his commitment to keep the team in L.A.
"The Clippers are not going anywhere, ever," he said. "I will die owning the L.A. Clippers in Los Angeles."
The Clippers have played in Staples Center since 1999. They recently relocated their business offices out of Staples Center and into a new location downtown.
