Nets on the Net: The King is Off His Throne
Jul 9, 2010 2010 Free Agents, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov
So, how about that one-hour television special last night? Gotta give props to Jim Gray who conducted a terrific interview …. ah who am I kidding. What an egomaniacal bunch of hooey that was. I’ll have more thoughts on LeBron and the state of the Nets in a bit, but let me fill your morning cup of coffee with some links:
For starters, Mr. Prokhorov has a message for you all: “We have a vision of a championship team and need to invest wisely and for the long term. Fortunately, we have more than one plan to reach success, and, as I have found in all areas of my business, that is key to achieving it. To Nets fans past, present and future, the goal of making the playoffs this season remains intact and we reiterate our commitment to winning a championship within five years.”
Record columnist Tara Sullivan is one of many to call LeBron James cold, selfish, stupid, a poopy-head, etc.
Al Iannazzone has measured, yet critical words for Prokhorov and the “Blueprint for Greatness”: There is nothing wrong with confidence, putting yourself out there because you believe this is the dawn of an era of exciting things. It seems times and philosophies are changing for the Nets, which is a good thing. To win, you have to have a good owner with deep pockets and willing to spend. The Nets have that now, but they jumped the gun a little bit or were a little overzealous in Prokhorov’s first go-around as an NBA owner.
Steve Politi, not so much: Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov issued a statement not five minutes after the decision to “reiterate our commitment to winning a championship within five years.” But that billboard outside Madison Square Garden, the one declaring that Prokhorov and Jay-Z had the “blueprint for success” is 30 stories worth of hubris today, and the new owner looks as feeble as the old one.
Speaking of bug-eyed crazy, anyone read Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s letter to fans about LeFraud?
Dave D’Alessandro talks about tbe bidding war developing between the Nets and Bobcats over Tyrus Thomas of all people. With Derrick Favors being asked to spend the first half of the season on the bench, will PF be another major point of weakness for the Nets again?
Nets on the Net: The Waiting Continues. What is the Nets Plan B?
Jul 4, 2010 2010 Free Agents, Derrick Favors, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net
With the courtship of LeBron officially over, the Nets are doing the same thing they’ve done the past few days: wait for an answer. With reports from Dave D’Alessandro that Mikhail Prokhorov’s Gulfstream V jet has left New Jersey, the story remains – the Nets are waiting out LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Sources close to Mikhail Prokhorov say that LeBron is 50-50 on coming to the Nets. Only after those three give their answers will they turn to a Plan B, which is a bit more complicated. According to Fred Kerber, the team is not looking to spend money just to spend money, and given some of the contracts that have been handed out already in free agency, that could be hard. They may still try and make a run to acquire a SF via trade, but not at the expense of Derrick Favors, Kerber writes. They could make a run at David Lee or Carlos Boozer to play PF, or they might seek a shorter-term stopgap like Udonis Haslem or Luis Scola. It’s possible that if the “big three” spurn them, the Nets could sit on their cap space another summer and wait out Carmelo Anthony. Despite rumors that he’s ready to sign with the Knicks, the Nets, and other teams, apparently have meetings set-up with Amare Stoudemire for later this week, according to Sam Amick and NBA Fanhouse.
Meanwhile, those still figuring out if the Nets are in on “Plan A,” Chris Broussard, in an ESPN video doesn’t dismiss it. He weighs out the three possible options for Chris Bosh and where he will follow LeBron and/or Wade.
Cleveland’s Pitch to LeBron?
Jul 3, 2010 2010 Free Agents, LeBron James
Remember how funny it was when the Knicks powerpoint presentation to LeBron James was leaked to the press on Friday? Well, while digging around for possible leads on Cleveland’s pitch to LeBron today, I stumbled upon this. I mean, how could King James say no to this?:
Nets FA Targets: LeBron James
Jul 2, 2010 2010 Free Agents, Devin Kharpertian, LeBron James, NetsAreScorching Series
LeBron James
Age: 25
Height: 6-8
Position: SF
Key 2009-10 Stats: 29.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.6 apg, 50.3% fg%, 31.1 PER
Nets on the Net: All About LeBron, Free Agency
Jul 1, 2010 2010 Free Agents, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov
The concept that the Nets would be a major player for free agents in the Summer of 2010 was first born more than two years ago, when the Nets shipped off one of their most popular players, Richard Jefferson, to the Milwaukee Bucks for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. A year later, Vince Carter was the next domino to fall, signaling that for the 2009-10 season, performance on the court was going to be a secondary priority. What mattered most was financial flexibility.
Here we are, July 1st, and after two years of mostly miserable times following this Nets team, the era of hope is officially upon us and the Nets will be the first team to sit down with LeBron James in Akron, OH. As a massive billboard in the face of Madison Square Garden flaunts the team’s owners and their desire to be players, Nets fans have apparently been given the okay by those involved to “think big” too. It almost feels like if the Nets don’t walk away with the coup of the century, LeBron James in Newark then Brooklyn for the next five years, it will be a disappointment. But as we fans learned before the draft lottery, it’s hard to count on the unexpected. Nets fans just need to roll with every rumor until some of these big names start to land somewhere.
Strangely enough, after a week of talk of a “super team” in Miami, or matching Jordan’s legacy in Chicago (Frank Isola will still tell you the Knicks are totally legit in this arm’s race, though after being one of the king rumor-mongerers the past year he’s suddenly sick and tired of this stuff if you read his twitter page), it appears in many reports this morning that LeBron staying in Cleveland is the most plausible scenario. Shocking, I know.
Al Iannazzone talks about how for the Nets, the owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, is their pitch. Will it work? Depends on how you define “work”: “I think they’re going to be successful, but how do you define success?” an Eastern Conference executive said. “If you end up with Rudy Gay and David Lee with Devin Harris, Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez, I think that’s a nice team.”
But with a three-hour presentation planned, the Nets are going to do more than just have Prokhorov show up and kickbox. Fred Kerber, who’s really done some fantastic reporting during this whole ordeal, has the scoop on who’s going to say what today:
Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov will pitch his global vision, showing James the vast network his resources reach, including Russia, Brooklyn, China, a network that could make him a billionaire.
Hip-hop mogul and James friend Jay-Z will propose James’ own clothing line plus a new fragrance, as well as opportunities in entertainment.
Coach Avery Johnson will concentrate on his approach and James’ play as huge pieces of a resurgent team with quality youth in place.
Team president Rod Thorn can show how he twice brought the team from the brink and, even if he’s not in place in two more weeks, that with Prokhorov’s determination to have a dynasty, the commitment to winning is ferocious.
Dmitry Razumov, CEO of Prokhorov’s Onexim company, will pitch business opportunities awaiting James.
Nets CEO Brett Yormark can discuss ways the Nets, who will be in Brooklyn in two years, can market the NBA’s reigning MVP and biggest star.
By the way, those on LeBron-burnout should now that before midnight last night, a few other big names opted out of their contracts, some unexpectedly. Amare Stoudemire, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki and Richard Jefferson, who left nearly $15 million on the table, according to the New York Times. For a pretty thorough rundown on the FA market besides LeBron, check out Adrian Wojnarowski’s latest scribblings.
Nets on the Net: Blueprint for Greatness
Jun 30, 2010 Jay-Z, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn
Well, now the Nets have gone and done it. Earlier this week, Al Iannazzone hinted that “big things” were afoot with this organization, and while the biggest dreamers in us might have thought it was going to be a major trade, I suspect it was in fact something a little more gleeful. Like, say, a 225-by-90-foot mural of Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z on 34th Street and 8th, which is adjacent to some building the Knicks play in… can’t remember the name … it used to be an important part of New York sports culture but it’s hard for me to remember things that happened 20 years ago.
Still, despite the chatter focusing more on Miami and Chicago, and with the Nets firing a shot across the bow attracting attention of their own, the Knicks still believe they are major players for LeBron James.
Meanwhile, Dave D’Alessandro rolls out the team’s itinerary over the next few days. Interestingly enough, outside of Bosh, the team hasn’t scheduled anything (yet) with the other bigs out there, Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire and David Lee. That’s not to say they won’t, but it seems pretty clear this team is aiming for the biggest fish first. Love the aggression.
Still, Steve Politi of the Star-Ledger has to throw cold water all over us mouth-foaming Nets fans and remind us that with Rod Thorn stepping down, but not “retiring,” it just doesn’t look terribly good for the organization right now.
Nets on the Net: LeBron Coming? Colangelo Not Interested?
Jun 27, 2010 2010 Free Agents, Coaching, LeBron James, Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets on the Net, Rod Thorn
Hey guys – with about 500 things going on with this team right now, I thought I’d bring back the fuller a.m. link dump rather than the single links I’ve been doing since the season ended in April. However, I urge you guys to comment on the news that way you have been with the daily links:
So, one of the biggest things about Mikhail Prokhorov signing on to the Nets was this idea that with his money, charisma and business drive, he could change the decades-old negative perception around the organization. And if you read this morning news about LeBron James and his free agency plans, Prokhorov could be enough to snag the world’s most coveted free agent. Al Iannazzone reports that Prokhorov and co. will be the first to make their pitch to James once free agency opens later this week. The Frank Isola/Mitch Lawrence Daily News New York Knick cheerleaders CONTINUE to dismiss this notion that LeBron would never sign with the Nets because it would involve this horrifying notion of playing 10 minutes outside of NYC in Newark for 2 years before moving to Brooklyn (I’m still waiting for a non-speculative report from someone who is not Isola that explains to me how two years of Newark and three years of Brooklyn could damage LeBron’s marketability compared to him just playing at the World’s Most Famous Arena for the World’s Most Embarrassing Owners in the Dolans). However, Iannazzone quotes someone close to LeBron saying: “He’s coming to New Jersey.” While that source is about as reliable as Jalen Rose telling people he’s 100% certain LeBron might leave Cleveland, there’s food for thought there.
Meanwhile, in one of the most rational pieces I’ve read yet on LeBronmania, Steve Politi of the Star-Ledger weighs the pros and cons of Newark.
Dave D’Alessandro reports the Nets might have to give up a piece of their young core (Devin, Courtney or TWill) in order to shed some of their dead financial weight (Yi) to make a run at two max free agents.
Sam Arnick of Fanhouse chides the Nets for not having a “plan B” in place with Rod Thorn leaving on July 15. Meanwhile, top candidate Jerry Colangelo says he doesn’t know anything about being in line to replace Thorn.
Did Russian spies push Rod Thorn out of the organization?
Former coach of the year Sam Mitchell has been taken on as one of Avery Johnson’s assistants while Tom Barrise and John Loyer have also been retained as assistants.
No, Seriously, C’Mon LeBron!
Jun 7, 2010 2010 Free Agents, 2010 Offseason, 2010 Playoffs, LeBron James, Rant
I can’t take this LeBron James hype anymore. In fact, it’s much ado about nothing since I believe James is just going to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers anyway. If money talks, then the Cavs, in fact, do have an edge since they can offer LeBron $30 million more over the life of a max contract. “But what about the marketing opportunities in New York?” Stop it! Like he wasn’t and couldn’t continue to build his “brand” from Cleveland.
C’mon LeBron… just admit you’re staying already!
Read the rest of this entry »
Daily Link: Jay-Z Says Prokhorov Can Handle LeBron
Jun 6, 2010 Daily Link, Jay-Z, LeBron James
The Daily News this morning talks about a quote from Jay-Z that’s set to appear in the next issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. The Rapper/Mogul/Minority Owner of the Nets says he’s not going to push too hard on his buddy LeBron James to come to Newark next year.
Recruiting the NBA’s reigning two-time MVP is instead up to new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov – and Jay-Z thinks the deep-pocketed Russian is up to the task.
I’m getting the sense that despite all the hysteria immediately after the Cavs were bounced by the Celtics last month, things are being set up for LeBron to return to Cleveland. With that said, I always thought the Jay-Z/LeBron relationship was a bit overstated in terms of recruiting him to the Nets. It makes for good speculation, but considering that Jay-Z’s involvement with the Nets ownership has always been superficial at best, I’m not going to get exciting dreaming up scenarios where the two decide to join forces to help the Nets win some games in Newark.
Nets Of The Round Table III: LeBron, Hedo, and Franchise Player From The Finals
Jun 4, 2010 2010 Offseason, 2010 Playoffs, Chris Bosh, Free Agents, LeBron James, Nets of the Round Table
Obviously, this is a New Jersey Nets blog, however, the NAS crew absolutely love the NBA in general. So, every week, Sebastian, Mark, Devin, and myself will answer questions regarding the L.
Sebastian is off the table this week as he heads to Blogs with Balls in the Windy City. He’ll also be running a covert operation to ruin the Bulls’ chances of signing LeBron… oops, did I just write that?
1) LeBron James told CNN’s Larry King that the Cleveland Cavaliers have “the edge” to re-sign him. Does this make sense for LeBron or should he get away from that under-performing situation?
Mark:
I have thought, dating back to two summers ago when the summer of 2010 was first becoming something for Nets fans to look forward to, that it made too much sense for LeBron to stay in Cleveland. And while being bounced in the second round is a major disappointment, Boston took care of the Magic in similar fashion – so maybe their run has more to do with their pieces coming together at the right time (along with some great defensive schemes from Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau) rather than the Cavs underachieving. With Mike Brown now out of the picture, LeBron could hand pick his own coach while staying in his home state. The idea that he has to come to the NY area for more marketing exposure is a myth. No one is going to care about LeBron if he’s leading the Knicks to an 8 seed or helping the Nets rebuild. If he stays in Cleveland, he’s all but guaranteed to be playing for a title contender, even if it hasn’t worked out that way the past two springs.
Devin:
As a Nets fan who is infatuated with LeBron James, I’m obviously inclined to say, YES, YES, LEAVE. It also makes me inclined to say that the “edge” he is talking about is purely financial – the Cavs can re-sign him for more money than any other team can offer due to the nature of the free agent market. As a basketball fan, though, I’m not so sure it would be good for his legacy to leave. Look at the great players in the history of the NBA. Kobe will be a lifelong Laker. Magic too. Jordan was a lifetime Bull who never played anywhere else, ever, not even four years after he retired. Russell and Bird were Celtics their entire careers. If he shows loyalty to Cleveland, it could potentially be exactly what the doctor ordered – the FA cloud looms over them no more, the focus is finally on basketball, and a championship could be soon on the horizon.
However, LeBron, Harris, Lopez, and Favors/Cousins/Turner would be an awesome combo…
DV: Read the rest of this entry »
Previous to the Cavs getting tossed out of the playoffs by the Celtics, I thought LeBron would bolt Cleveland unless they won the championship. However, while the Cavs didn’t win the title, they lost in such a bad way and a lot earlier than expected, I quickly changed my train of thought. There was no way that LeBron would stand to leave his legacy in Cleveland after that horrible series where the team seemed to give up, LeBron was not being the attacking LeBron, and his leadership seemed to dissolve right before our eyes, both on the court and off. I thought at the very least, he would opt for the one-year in 2010-11 and become a free agent again after that season. That said, I do think he’ll re-sign with the Cavs and does make sense in a lot of ways – the team should contend again next season while teams like the Knicks and Nets won’t. The Bulls possibly could, but geting back to legacy, I don’t think he’ll want to be in the Land of Jordan. So, if he really believes what he’s saying about his hometown and the fans, as well as winning a title in that mix, he should re-sign. Plus the Cavs can offer him $30 million dollars more than any other team. Money always seems to talk.