CLEVELAND — Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov laughed about the team’s 225-foot advertisement that hovers over Madison Square Garden from its 34th Street and Eighth Ave. location.
“It is a lot of fun. It is big,” Prokhorov said before nodding toward the upper floors of the IMG building here. “He is bigger.”
He, of course, is LeBron James, the ultimate prize in the most frenzied free-agent marketplace in NBA history, the reason Prokhorov led a Nets party here for an elaborate presentation to entice the reigning MVP.
Maybe the Nets get James. Maybe they don’t. But Prokhorov insists he is prepared for all contingencies.
“I have a Plan A, Plan B and a Plan C,” Prokhorov told The Post. “Plus, I’m sure the team will be great.”
Especially with that LeBron guy.
Asked if he thought the Nets were persuasive enough to overcome the Cavs’ possible hometown advantage, Prokhorov sidestepped answering.
“Not now, later,” he said. “When the time is appropriate.”
The Nets were extremely pleased with their showing and left feeling they are definitely in the hunt to land James when signings begin July 8. James was described as “very engaged” in the proceedings, asking questions, specifically about the ability to sign another max contract guy, such as Bosh. The Nets would need another $3 million or so. Believe it, they’ll find a way if necessary.
As for James, he left after a later meeting with the Knicks, and offered no comment.
James, and a host of stud stars such as Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire, became free agents at 12:01 a.m. yesterday. And the Nets were the first team to try to impress James with a presentation one team insider dubbed “spectacular” after getting reviews from those involved. At least nobody walked in and called him Kobe.
The Nets’ presentation to James hinged on two themes: global opportunity and Brooklyn. The Nets, who have $30.1 million in cap space and are looking for $3 million more to sign two max free agents, felt their pitch made its point.
“Same opinion as them,” Prokhorov said with a smile.
“We think it did [go well],” said coach Avery Johnson. “We had a great presentation. Our marketing folks did a great job. Mikhail was unbelievable. We’ll just see what happens.”
“Same opinion as our coach,” Prokhorov deadpanned about himself.
The Nets honchos, including Prokhorov, then headed to Chicago, where they had meetings planned last night with Wade and Bosh. They feel they have no shot at Wade, but Bosh has been the target behind James.
A fall-back plan fizzled when restricted free agent Rudy Gay agreed to re-up in Memphis (five years, $80 million). He was the Nets’ small-forward hope if the James plan crashed.
Prokhorov brought the Nets’ contingent here via his private Gulfstream jet, which landed at 10:36 a.m.. The six-man contingent arrived downtown at 11:05 and included hip-hop mogul and Nets part owner Jay-Z, who was dressed in a white button-down shirt. He led the parade onto the elevator for the eighth-floor suite of LRMR Marketing, the
offices of James’ business partner, Maverick Carter.
Jay-Z was followed by Prokhorov, Dmitry Razumov, CEO of Prokhorov’s Onexim company, Nets CEO Brett Yormark, Nets president Rod Thorn and Johnson. They went to meet James, who had rolled up in the passenger side of a white SUV at 10:58 wearing a gray Nike shirt, sweatpants and sunglasses. James stopped at the “Good To Go Cafe” in the lobby to chat with owner Anna Harouvis.
“Nicest guy. Gives back to the community,” she said. “And a great tipper.”
The Nets had James’ undivided attention for more than 90 minutes. All but Jay-Z left around 12:40. The rapper exited without comment at about 12:56 — and passed the incoming Knicks contingent in the driveway of the underground garage as he left.
“We made our presentation, and they asked some real good questions, so we’ll have to see,” Thorn said. “We had different guys talk about different things.”
As to whether James, who plans to meet with the Bulls, Heat, Clippers and Cavs today and tomorrow, was impressed, “Well, we were the first, so how do you know?” Thorn said.
Said Johnson, “We’ll keep our fingers crossed. We’re glad we got a chance to swing. It’s baseball season, right? We just want the at-bat.”
fred.kerber@nypost.com