Here comes the busiest — and maybe most important — week of meetings in Nets’ history. LeBron James on Thursday. Toronto free agent Chris Bosh, at least, on Friday.
As the free-agency period hits, the Nets are hunting the top-tier players and using their top weapons.
Billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov, rapper Jay-Z, a longtime friend of James and the holder of a minority share in the team, coach Avery Johnson and team president Rod Thorn all will make pitches to the stars.
The Nets also may meet Friday with Heat free agent Dwyane Wade. But only the trip to Akron, Ohio, to meet with James on Thursday and the sit-down with Bosh in New York on Friday were confirmed by several sources last night.
The Nets have $26 million in cap space and hope to lure James, through Prokhorov’s global-vision salesmanship, and another top-tier player.
Thorn insists his status, his situation, is not important to the Nets’ fortunes. What matters is what starts Thursday. He is expected to step down as Nets president on July 15, a week after free-agent signings can take place.
Those close to the 69-year-old executive again cautioned about using “retirement” because Thorn may still end up working someplace.
“It’s not about me and it’s not up to me to say anything,” said Thorn. “I have no comment. That’s up to ownership.”
Thorn repeatedly has said he has had no problems with Prokhorov, who likewise publicly expressed his support of Thorn.
Thorn guided the Nets in hiring a coach and handled the drafting of Derrick Favors. Now comes the pursuit of James and at least one other big-name sidekick, namely Bosh.
Thorn will not talk about the free-agent targets or plans. But LeBron’s camp has the Nets’ contingent booked first.
Speaking strictly in generalities, Thorn discussed how the recruiting goes. “You make your pitch to the free agent,” he said. “In this case, you tell them we have some pieces, really good pieces, in place. We have a lot of money [$26 million] to get more pieces. We’re going to Brooklyn in two years. And we have an owner who is committed to winning, an owner who will do whatever it takes to win, and we want you to be a part of it.”
And there’ll be the pitch from Prokhorov with his global-resource network: “Wanna be a billionaire?”
Names most prominently mentioned by team insiders as possible successors to Thorn are Nets VP Bobby Marks, Thunder GM Sam Presti and Hornets GM Jeff Bower.
Two names mentioned that already have been discounted by sources are fired Portland GM Kevin Pritchard and former Phoenix owner Jerry Colangelo.