From Russia with tough love.
One of Mikhail Prokhorov’s first moves as owner of the Nets was to announce that Kiki Vandeweghe is out as general manager. And he did so without first telling Vandeweghe.
The news about Vandeweghe’s job status came as a jolt during Prokhorov’s lengthy sit-down with the media yesterday.
After serving as GM and interim coach, Vandeweghe was performing his duties as if he planned on continuing with the organization. He learned of his status as the plane he was on was about to take off for Chicago, where Nets brass is meeting for the weekend pre-draft combine.
“With Kiki, he’s a very talented guy, he did his job in a very tough season for the team, and his agreement expires in summer, and I wish him well,” said Prokhorov, who said he will keep Vandeweghe aboard for the final month and a half of his contract.
“I really have no comment,” said Vandeweghe, who was at the draft lottery Tuesday in Secaucus, where he spoke with Prokhorov for the first time.
Vandeweghe reluctantly took over the team as interim coach after the firing of Lawrence Frank and posted a 12-52 record as the Nets completed the worst season in their often-tortured history.
Vandeweghe’s primary function had been to get the team under the salary cap, which he did by designing several blockbuster trades. The Nets now have $26 million in cap room.
Prokhorov said team president Rod Thorn will make the call on both the coach and GM.
“I like several options. If it’s one strategy, it’s very weak. We need to be very flexible,” Prokhorov said. “We discussed several options.”
Prokhorov said he wants to eventually use Russian-born members of his management team. But not now. There still is a lot of learning to do.
“I think on this stage, Russia suffers from the lack of the level. We need an NBA general manager. We have in Russia maybe three or four candidates who can compete with American people and with their experience for the NBA to be assistant general managers,” he said. “I need the best I can find.”