CLEVELAND — If all else fails, Beyonce can give singing lessons to LeBron James.
With the free-agency period having begun at midnight, the Nets this morning at 11 here will offer a multi-tiered presentation to James, the most sought-after free agent since mankind drew on cave walls. The Nets go first with their production, setting the bar for five other teams to top.
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 longtime 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. Thorn said on NBA TV yesterday, “We have $30 million in cap space; we are attempting to get two or three more million” to sign two max players.
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.
“The Nets are the wildcard in this,” said one source close to LeBron who believes that, ultimately, James will stay in Cleveland, short term.
But if he decides to crush a city’s heart and flee, then the Nets’ chances are “as good any anybody’s and better than most,” believes one Eastern team executive.
So why the Nets? They will have the glitter and pomp of New York without the overwhelming, unrelenting glare and scrutiny of playing in the Garden. Miami will remain Dwyane Wade’s town, regardless of whom he teams with on the Heat. And Chicago has that whole Michael Jordan legacy thing. For rosters — and assuming LeBron wants to win and not just be a billionaire — the Nets are ahead of the Knicks.
The Nets have contingencies. When Prokhorov, who was scheduled to fly from Russia and then fly here in his private Gulfstream with his impressive team of pitchmen, visited in May after his NBA approval, he spoke about people saying “No.” Or “nyet” in this case.
“It’s natural for human beings. I say no. If you have Plan B and Plan C, you’re all the time relaxed,” he said.
So the Nets also are looking at Chris Bosh — multiple sources insist that James and Bosh are not intertwined, especially from LeBron’s point of view. And there were unconfirmed reports of a sign-and-trade sending Bosh to Miami. The Nets will meet with Wade and Bosh today in Chicago.
The Nets know they have no shot at Wade or Dirk Nowitzki. Amar’e Stoudemire apparently has slipped behind Bosh on the wish list due to concerns about his surgically repaired knee. Utah’s Carlos Boozer and restricted free agent Rudy Gay are both coveted, though no firm meeting time for them was set as of last night. Ditto for David Lee, whose defense concerns.
So now tampering is moot and persuasion reigns. And the Nets are on the clock.