Isn't this the Clippers (or namely, Sterling's) M.O.? He just loves to play hardball, whether he has a leg to stand on or not. He just can't stand to lose a negotiation, and refuses to give in, even if he is completely wrong not to.
It is like the stance he took last year with Cassell. He stood strong until the very last second saying that he would not give Cassell a penny, if he was not playing for them, even though he stood to save money by buying him out, rather than being stubborn.
Sterling just comes accross as the standard Jerk businessman who will cares more about winning any negotiation, and feeling like he screwed someone over, than actually coming out on top on the bottom line.