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January 21, 2011
Mikhail Prokhorov calling off pursuit of Carmelo Anthony trade shows that Nets have begun new era
NY Daily News
by Stefan Bondy
Mikhail Prokhorov sat in the press conference room at the Rock and owned it, just as he owns $17 billion worth in assets and a team of nondescript players unbecoming of his own personality. Just as he thought he could own Carmelo Anthony, with a simple pep talk and a new arena in Brooklyn.
Instead, his biggest moment as Net owner became a very public surrender, the waving of a white flag, as Prokhorov sold it as something far more proactive. Prokhorov is used to getting his way, but the business of the NBA is unlike anything he experienced while building an empire in post-communist Russia.
The players and their agents run the show here, at least until the collective bargaining agreement expires in July. And unfortunately for Prokhorov, the Nets still aren't the Knicks, no matter how much they trump up Brooklyn and distribute updates of the construction site in Atlantic Yards.
Posted by eric at January 21, 2011 10:48 AM