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New Jersey Nets thread
#1
Quote:[size="3"]NBA approves sale of Nets to Russian Prokhorov[/size]



NEW YORK (AP) -- The first step in what the New Jersey Nets hope is a quick turnaround is in place.



New owner Mikhail Prokhorov is eager to get started on the rest.



"For those who are already fans of the Nets and the NBA, I intend to give you plenty to cheer about," the Russian billionaire said in a statement.



The Nets are now officially the Nyets.



Prokhorov's purchase of the team was approved Tuesday by NBA's owners, who welcomed the first non-North American into their club.



Russia's richest man agreed to buy 80 percent of the Nets and 45 percent of an arena project in Brooklyn from developer Bruce Ratner late last year. Final approval of the sale was delayed until the state of New York had taken over all the land seized under eminent domain at the site of the team's Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Nets expect that transaction to close Wednesday, and the long-delayed 18,000-seat arena is to open in 2012.



The Nets hope Prokhorov's wealth -- estimated at $9.5 billion through his banking and metals businesses -- will be used to help them bounce back from a 12-70 finish that included an NBA-worst, 18-game losing streak to open the season.



The team was ruined by cost-cutting moves under Ratner, who signed off on the trades of Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. There's money to spend now, with an estimated $23 million in salary cap room heading into free agency this summer, when LeBron Wade, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are among the players who could be available.



Prokhorov already has proven he can build a winning basketball team, owning a share of European power CSKA Moscow.



"We anticipate that his passion for the game and business acumen will be of considerable value not only to the Nets franchise but to the entire NBA," commissioner David Stern said.



A person with knowledge of the voting results told The Associated Press that NBA owners voted 29-0 to approve the purchase. One team did not vote. The sale had to be approved by three-fourths of the NBA's owners.



The person requested anonymity because the voting totals were not released.



"Today's vote will give the NBA a greater global reach and bring a multitude of new fans to the game of basketball," Prokhorov said."



The next step for the Nets comes next week with the NBA draft lottery, in which they have a 25 percent chance of winning to earn the No. 1 pick and can finish no worse than fourth. Stern previously predicted Prokhorov could represent the team at the lottery.



Prokhorov's arrival in the NBA already has brought plenty of attention to the long-ignored franchise. The 6-foot-6 tycoon was an avid basketball player in his school days, is a fixture in glitzy European resorts and once was held in France for four days of questioning -- but never charged -- in a prostitution investigation.



He's now at the front of a team that will spend the next two years playing in Newark before the anticipated move to Brooklyn. Prokhorov hopes he has built a winning team by then.



"Mikhail and his team will bring tremendous innovation and excitement to the NBA," Ratner said.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/05/11/nets.sale/index.html



Prokhorov also stated that the Nets will win NBA within 5 years. All Nets-related discussions should go in here.
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#2
[quote name='Vilius' date='23 May 2010 - 05:55 AM' timestamp='1274612137' post='21259']

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/05/11/nets.sale/index.html



Prokhorov also stated that the Nets will win NBA within 5 years. All Nets-related discussions should go in here.

[/quote]



Back when Prokhorov was in the process of purchasing the Nets rumors were flying around that he wanted to bring in Marciulionis and Sabonis as team advisors to establish a European flair. I have not heard anything since but adding these Lithuanian legends would stir my interest in the Nets.



Quote:He far outspent other teams in Europe, won titles and now wants to do it on the biggest stage of all. He hired the best coach overseas and had payrolls bigger than some NBA teams. One NBA executive with strong Eastern European ties says to expect Russian and Lithuanian basketball legends Sarunas Marciulionis and Arvydas Sabonis to be included in a dramatically changed Nets organization. With CSKA, Prokhorov tried to hire Toronto Raptors assistant GM Maurizio Gherardini but was spurned. He could revisit the Italian executive for the Nets’ top job, and it wouldn’t be long until the NBA had its first foreign coach, Ettore Messina.



For now, Prokhorov would be wise to re-sign president Rod Thorn to an extension, and sources with knowledge of the Russian billionaire believe it’s a distinct possibility.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw...nets092309



On the topic, Rod Thorn just signed a two year extension.
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#3
From what I hear he wants to bring Viktor Khryapa, Ramunas Siskauskas, and Theo Papaloukas to the Nets this summer.
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#4
I heard that Kaun could play in the NBA next season and I believe that is a very big chance that he would play for Nets. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />
Bench-Warmer.net - my new web blog! ||| lt.bench-warmer.net - lietuviška blog'o versija! ||| I'm on twitter
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#5
Khryapa and Kaun might go to the NBA but I can't see neither Siska nor Teo going there. Mainly because of their age which would be a problem adjusting to a faster NBA tempo. Plus I doubt they would want to risk their current positions in Europe at this point of their careers. Still it's interesting to think about such possibility.



And what about Messina?
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#6
[quote name='Sagenas' date='25 May 2010 - 10:16 AM' timestamp='1274775363' post='21310']

I heard that Kaun could play in the NBA next season and I believe that is a very big chance that he would play for Nets. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Smile' />

[/quote]



I think the Cavs manager already said Kaun will replace Shaq or Big Z next season in Cleveland.
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#7
[quote name='Vilius' date='25 May 2010 - 12:55 PM' timestamp='1274784905' post='21311']

Khryapa and Kaun might go to the NBA but I can't see neither Siska nor Teo going there. Mainly because of their age which would be a problem adjusting to a faster NBA tempo. Plus I doubt they would want to risk their current positions in Europe at this point of their careers. Still it's interesting to think about such possibility.



And what about Messina?

[/quote]





From what I hear Prokhorov initially wanted Messina to coach the Nets. However, the Nets manager Rod Thorn advised against it and said they should not hire any foreign coach. Prokhorov is letting Thorn make the decisions so they don't seem to be going after Messina.



Interestingly enough, Rod Thorn has been interested in signing both Siska and Papaloukas in the past.
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#8
Prokhorov's effect is already being felt, even though he has yet to actually do anything. The general feel about the team has improved from depressing to hopeful. I just hope he can bring the Nets the same success that he brought to CSKA.



There's been no report in the US that I've seen about any Euro players joining the Nets, other than Kirilenko. Messina won't be the coach; Prokhorov wanted him originally, but decided to hire a coach with NBA experience. He's bringing a few of his own guys to the front office, including Andrei Vatutin in all probability as assistant GM.



Even though the Nets didn't win the lottery, Favors should be a great new signing at the #3 spot and then we'll have to wait and see exactly how much the team can improve with a real coach and a new, shiny owner.
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#9
[quote name='kobimel' date='26 May 2010 - 11:21 AM' timestamp='1274890877' post='21350']

Prokhorov's effect is already being felt, even though he has yet to actually do anything. The general feel about the team has improved from depressing to hopeful. I just hope he can bring the Nets the same success that he brought to CSKA.



There's been no report in the US that I've seen about any Euro players joining the Nets, other than Kirilenko. Messina won't be the coach; Prokhorov wanted him originally, but decided to hire a coach with NBA experience. He's bringing a few of his own guys to the front office, including Andrei Vatutin in all probability as assistant GM.



Even though the Nets didn't win the lottery, Favors should be a great new signing at the #3 spot and then we'll have to wait and see exactly how much the team can improve with a real coach and a new, shiny owner.

[/quote]



Spot on, the latest I've heard is that they really want to bring in Avery Johnson as the coach. With the exception of Phil Jackson, Avery Johnson would be the coach I'd go after if I were a GM, as much as I'd like to see Messina in the NBA.



Considering how awful the Nets were this past season they have such a bright future with Lopez and Favors/Cousins. They were hoping to land Wall and then move Devin Harris but now they'll have to figure out whether they want to keep Harris or still try to swap him for another piece. His value is low right now so I think the Nets would be better off keeping him. It is a shame that the Nets aren't moving to Brooklyn this year, that could really give this team some momementum and a truly fresh start.
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#10
[quote name='kobimel' date='26 May 2010 - 06:21 PM' timestamp='1274890877' post='21350']

Prokhorov's effect is already being felt, even though he has yet to actually do anything. The general feel about the team has improved from depressing to hopeful. I just hope he can bring the Nets the same success that he brought to CSKA.



There's been no report in the US that I've seen about any Euro players joining the Nets, other than Kirilenko. Messina won't be the coach; Prokhorov wanted him originally, but decided to hire a coach with NBA experience. He's bringing a few of his own guys to the front office, including Andrei Vatutin in all probability as assistant GM.



Even though the Nets didn't win the lottery, Favors should be a great new signing at the #3 spot and then we'll have to wait and see exactly how much the team can improve with a real coach and a new, shiny owner.

[/quote]



US media also reported Khryapa to the Nets. As far as I know the Nets will trade the draft pick because they don't want to pay for it.
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#11
[quote name='skangles' date='27 May 2010 - 04:43 AM' timestamp='1274928235' post='21378']

Spot on, the latest I've heard is that they really want to bring in Avery Johnson as the coach. With the exception of Phil Jackson, Avery Johnson would be the coach I'd go after if I were a GM, as much as I'd like to see Messina in the NBA.



Considering how awful the Nets were this past season they have such a bright future with Lopez and Favors/Cousins. They were hoping to land Wall and then move Devin Harris but now they'll have to figure out whether they want to keep Harris or still try to swap him for another piece. His value is low right now so I think the Nets would be better off keeping him. It is a shame that the Nets aren't moving to Brooklyn this year, that could really give this team some momementum and a truly fresh start.

[/quote]



They plan on trading their draft pick with a contract they want to unload to get about another $4-$5 million under the cap.
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#12
Trade the #3 pick to get 4-5 million under the cap? No way that happens in a million years. <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/stop.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Stop' />
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#13
Panathinaikos, there were many rumors so I don't if that it's smart to see it as true <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='Biggrin' />
Bench-Warmer.net - my new web blog! ||| lt.bench-warmer.net - lietuviška blog'o versija! ||| I'm on twitter
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