MILWAUKEE – Mikhail Prokhorov has created a pretty big buzz and he’s not even the Nets’ owner yet. It has to make Nets’ fans, not to mention members of the organization, excited about what could be.
What could be is an environment similar to what Mark Cuban has created in Dallas, where players are taken care of in every way imaginable, given ridiculous amenities and winning is all that matters.
Ten straight years the Mavericks have made the playoffs, all under Cuban. The Nets are closing out their third straight season without postseason basketball.
They hope that streak is snapped by this time next season and it seems Prokhorov is going to do what he can to make sure it happens – and by what he can we mean spend some of his roughly $13.4 billion.
As everyone knows by now, Prokhorov wants to bring in a marquee coach. Mike Krzyzewski tops the list and could be offered between $12 million and $15 million to guide the Nets and hold some kind of management title.
Krzyzewski has said about 10 times since it was first reported in February that the Nets wanted him that he has no interest in the job. No one is saying he will take it, but what else is he supposed to say, especially hours before his team is scheduled to play in the NCAA Title game? Of course he’s going to say no.
Now, he also said it twice yesterday after the Blue Devils won the title. It was a long shot, always was, but Prokhorov has to take a shot.
And that’s what this off-season will be about for the Nets, putting themselves out there. They’re not going to succeed in all their pursuits, but at least they’re going to be out there trying this offseason.
Some may say the Nets could be giving false hope, particularly if they have little shot at getting LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. But it’s not because they are legitimately going to go after them, using everything they can, including part-owner Jay-Z’s popularity and influence.
Last summer the Nets pursued – if you want to call it that – Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Otherwise, they weren’t in play. They were saving for this summer and because they were going to be sold.
This summer, they’re going to go after a big name coach and some of the biggest named players in the NBA where money is no object to a certain extent.
If Prokhorov could give LeBron James a record deal you have to believe he would. But the Nets only have so much they can spend according to the rules of the collective bargaining agreement.
As of now, they will have $23 million, give or take, enough to sign a max deal and another talented player. If they make other moves to clear money or Kris Humphries decides not to exercise his $3.2 million option they could have $27 million.
It will be interesting to see what Rod Thorn does with that type of money and without restrictions. He’s been handcuffed by the prior regime and often forced to sign guys to partial midlevel deals, lower-level contracts or minimum salaries.
Players always say they’re happy and don’t want to go anywhere. That’s the case for about three-quarters of the Nets, despite their 11-67 record.
Now, that’s not going to happen because you can’t keep 10 or 11 guys from an 11-win team. But it shows that the players like each other, playing with each other and are excited about what could be.
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The Nets have great timing.
On the same day John Wall, Evan Turner and DeMarcus Cousins declare for the NBA Draft, the Nets clinched at least a tie for the worst record in the NBA.
They dropped to 11-67 with their 108-89 loss to Milwaukee last night.
With Devin Harris scoring 18 in the first nine minutes, the Nets scored 38 points in the first quarter. They had just 51 the rest of the way, and 31 in the second half.
Harris and Courtney Lee were 17-for-30 and combined for 44 points. The rest of the team was 13-for-46 and scored 45.
Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)
