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April 5, 2010
NBA executives having trouble gauging prospective Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov
The Star-Ledger
by Dave D'Alessandro
Rumors that pending Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is prepared to offer Duke University men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski $15 million dollars a year has NBA insiders perplexed.
Until then, he has succeeded in confusing the opposition, judging by the outlook of three chief executives — all presidential-level NBA men requesting anonymity so that they can offer candid opinions about Nets business — who aren’t sure whether Prokhorov is bold, publicity hungry or stupid.
“With so much rumor and speculation going on with this guy, I have problems with the legitimacy of anything before he takes control of the team,” one executive said. “First they were going after Jerry Colangelo. Then they were hiring the Toronto GM (Mauricio Gherardini). They’ve already hired and fired three coaches, from what I’ve read. I don’t think they have anything remotely close to a strategy, but I know this much: If it’s not Rod Thorn who’s formulating it, they already have problems.”
...“The Nets are different,” the second executive said. “They can’t sell their history, or even loyalty, since they’re moving to Brooklyn in two years and might take 5 percent of their fans with them. So they need something to hang their hats on. I think they know they have to overspend somewhere — that’s just the way it will be — and the coach might be the place to do it.”
NoLandGrab: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Five percent of their fans? Claims of big Atlantic Yards economic benefits are rooted in the preposterous claim that 30% of Nets ticket buyers (a critically endangered species) will follow the team to Brooklyn.
Posted by eric at April 5, 2010 11:54 PM