Donald Sterling Meets With Steve Ballmer Over Sale of Clippers

Donald Sterling is now willing to talk about selling the team over which he's waging legal war ... because he just met with Steve Ballmer to talk about the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ballmer went to Sterling's Beverly Hills estate Monday at 3 PM, along with Shelly Sterling's lawyer, Pierce O'Donnell ... who brokered the $2 billion deal.

Sources tell TMZ Sports ... Donald has softened his position and is now considering signing off on the sale ... in no small part because his lawyers have told him he's going to lose his court case.

Our sources say Donald himself requested the meeting.