The Prokhorov Watch Thread

[NetsForce]

On his blog, Mikhail Prokhorov confirms he is in serious negotiations with the Nets to finance Barclays Center and gain control of the team. In return for financing the arena, Prokhorov wants control for “a symbolic price”–probably $1. The Russian billionaire also wants to be able to use the Nets to train Russia’s basketball players and place “Russia’s leading coaches and managers in the NBA.” He added he expects negotiations to “move forward.” Meanwhile scrutiny of the deal continues.

http://64.233.169.132/translate_c?hl=en ... HTDCK4z7ew

Though I've been a proponent of this deal for a while the bold sentence has me a bit concerned.

[ecuhus1981]

Yeah, Russia produces some quality young talent, but I'm a bit leery that he's going to try to turn the Nets into a pipeline for his comrades. Sounds like the golden rule to me: whoever has the gold, makes the rules.

[UGA Hayes]

I'd be stunned if the NBA allowed a Russian to buy the team.

[NetsForce]

I'd be stunned if the NBA allowed a Russian to buy the team.

I honestly feel like it would be the ultimate sign of commitment to making the NBA a global brand.

[vincecarter4pres]

This is like any shady deal, it has short term positives and long term red flags, in this case there is a star on that flag.

[Rockice_8]

I hear alot a crazy stuff about this guy, but he seems to be passionate about basketball. He supposedly turned his crappy Russain team into a contender fairly quickly. Hopefully he can do that for us. He doesn't seem shy about speading his money thats for sure. Seem like this could benefit the Nets if this does happen so I'm down with it.

[BigWil17]

My main concern is that winning wouldn't be his top priority, and Thorn ends up leaving. Based on the Russian team that shouldn't be the case, but if he's LOOKING to add more and more Russian players solely because they're Russian, we're obviously not going for the best talent.

[UGA Hayes]

I'd be stunned if the NBA allowed a Russian to buy the team.

I honestly feel like it would be the ultimate sign of commitment to making the NBA a global brand.

Yeah but there are all sorts of downsides. People complain about D. Sterling's ulterior motives and how the league can't do anything him. If I were the owners I would be cautious and see if winning in the NBA is a genuine motive for this guy.

[NetsForce]

I don't think winning is going to be the problem it's going to be how he goes about winning that I'm concerned with.

He seems a bit like the type of owner who try to jump into the middle of things and make impulsive decisions that would screw the team's salary cap.

[vincecarter4pres]

I could see him bringing in AK.

[kombayn]

Dude, if I'm David Stern. NO WAY, do I allow the Russian to have control of the team. He can be an owner but he's not turning the damn team into CSKA Brooklyn so they can have pre-season games with CSKA Moscow. I'm pretty sure the Brooklyn Project will not go through when it's all said and done.

[lurkingobeiscity]

How is there a downside? Prokhorov has been described as an avid basketball fan. One of the guys stated goals is to improve Russian basketball. One of Stern's main objectives is to spread basketball worldwide.

I agree with Netsforce. The only real concern is that the guy will be too intrusive in basketball decisions. And what would be wrong with preseason games in Moscow anyway?

BTW, kombayn, the Titans are going to kill the Jets this week.

[kombayn]

^I just think him wanting Russian Coaches and Staff is not exactly the way to market the "Brooklyn Nets". If he was doing that in Toronto, I wouldn't mind as much. I have no problem with him having the Nets play in Russia in the pre-season or Russian teams. I have a problem with him claiming he wants to bring in Russian Players, Front Office Staff and Coaches. That's not reasonable and could become a problem.

I'm all for him to be an owner as long as Ratner still has the final say over any decision and allow Rod Thorn to do his job. Like I said, I'm not interested in CSKA Brooklyn a.k.a. Team Russia USA

P.S. The Titans better destroy the Jets, they need this win badly. Plus they'll be wearing the AFL gear. I'm a Houston Oilers fan first and foremost.

[ecuhus1981]

This is like any shady deal, it has short term positives and long term red flags, in this case there is a star on that flag.

Well said!

[Tirion]

On his blog, Mikhail Prokhorov confirms he is in serious negotiations with the Nets to finance Barclays Center and gain control of the team. In return for financing the arena, Prokhorov wants control for “a symbolic price”–probably $1. The Russian billionaire also wants to be able to use the Nets to train Russia’s basketball players and place “Russia’s leading coaches and managers in the NBA.” He added he expects negotiations to “move forward.” Meanwhile scrutiny of the deal continues.

http://64.233.169.132/translate_c?hl=en ... HTDCK4z7ew

Though I've been a proponent of this deal for a while the bold sentence has me a bit concerned.

lol that's just a mistranslation. he doesn't want to hire russian coaches/managers, he wants to bring them in, so they could learn the dynamics of an NBA team and implement that knowlege in their russian clubs. an internship of sorts. and I highly doubt he even does that, it's just a PR talk so he wouldn't look "unpatriotic".

[sully00]

I would think this music to David Stern's ears. Perhaps I am misreading this thing from a far but Ratner is a real estate developer who has a pretty good idea of building an arena in Brooklyn anchored around an NBA team and revitalizing an area. 5 years ago he could leverage the deal against the property value and pull it off nobody is willing to take on the risk. If successful the Brooklyn Nets and its arena and development is easily worth over a billion dollars and would also greatly enhance the revenue of the NBA. That said Ratner is not really in it for the basketball he is in it for the real estate development and if he moves the Nets to Brooklyn and continues to run the franchise the same way the thing will end up bankrupt. Pro sports is widely expensive but also very personal and if you bottom line it you will end up like the Clippers, that is why corporations sucks as owners. I would think that Russian billionaire playboy who can cut a personal check for the capital is exactly what this deal needs.

[ChampionRed]

It's official according to ESPN and Netsdaily

ESPN link-http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4497411

Netsdaily link-http://www.netsdaily.com/blog/?p=1422

[NetsForce]

I guess this season really is going to mark a new era in Nets basketball

[Preludepunk27]

Hey I'm fine with it. From everything I've read, this guy is a sports nut, unlike Ratner using us just as a "cog" in his land development company. As long as he doesn't force us to draft Russian players all the time, I'm cool with this because it basically gets the arena set in stone almost. He's good friends with AK47. I say we sign him as a bench player when his contract is up lol...AK's wife is hot too.

[NetsForce]

In June 2007, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov announced the formation of the Government Council for Nanotechnology, to oversee the development of nanotechnology in the country. Prokhorov was one of 15 individuals appointed to the council

Nanotechnology + Yi Jianlian = World Domination.