Mikhail Prokhorov Sees No Setback in not Signing LeBron James
The New Jersey Nets may not have gotten any of the top name free agents they sought this offseason, but new team owner Mikhail Prokhorov says that this is not a roadblock in the Nets’ path to becoming a successful franchise once again.
According to Prokhorov, he had a hunch that two-time MVP LeBron James would not be coming to New Jersey, and thus the Nets developed numerous other plans for free agency dealings. In fact, Prokhorov did not even bother to stay up and watch James’s announcement conference regarding the matter. He simply went to bed and had his secretary check the Internet in the morning to find out the news.
The Nets will now be using Prokhorov’s wealth and their large salary cap space to sign lots of young talent rather than splurging in the overhyped market conditions currently in place. Prokhorov showed this mantra in action when he refused to make bids for David Lee or Carlos Boozer because he felt that they were good, but not capable of leading a team to a championship. The Nets’ financial flexibility will leave them with plenty of funding for seeking out other free agents in upcoming years, especially Carmelo Anthony next year.
As Prokhorov himself described the signing mentality of the Nets: "What I like from this free-agency period is we have made no mistake. This is very important. We still have the goal of a championship team and we are not in a hurry to make stupid mistakes to just get the player to make us better, but not a championship team. This is different strategy. An absolutely different strategy.”
He continued: "It's easy to make a top-five team: good enough to make playoffs, reach maybe the conference finals. But you will never win the championship."
Although the Nets were an NBA-worst 12-70 last season, Prokhorov expects the team to be in championship contention within five years and asked fans to be patient throughout the process.
Prokhorov’s current duties as owner are replacing outgoing president and general manager Rod Thorn. Prokhorov has been interviewing candidates face-to-face in order to gauge chemistry, but has yet to reveal any possible candidates.
Theoretical contenders for the job are Billy King, Kevin Pritchard, and Danny Ferry. Speculation has it that King and Ferry are the top candidates, but only Prokhorov knows the real situation. He did not shed any light on his decision, but said he hopes to make it soon.
"It's coming," Prokhorov said. "It's not easy. We are going to build a championship team and we need a general manager with great ambitions. He needs to be one of the best in the league with very good link with league, strong enough to work in metropolitan New York. It's a special decision. That's why we are not in a hurry. I need to smell everything myself because I take all the responsibility with what goes on with the team."
Since taking over the Nets, Prokhorov has been a dynamic and involved owner. He has a clear sense of purpose and a methodical understanding of the concept of success. He has thus far not foolishly spent money and has well planned theories for the Nets' development.
Prokhorov is lovable and mysterious, yet seemingly genuinely smart on the topic of basketball. A completely opposite, bizarro version of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, if you will. If the Nets have any chance of rebuilding a team that was once an Eastern Conference Finals mainstay, Prokhorov may perhaps be the best hope.
Prokhorov has never failed in any other of his goals in life, and it does not seem like the time to start wagering against him. Expect to see the Nets turn it around within five years, just as specified.
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