It is still all about Mikhail Prokhorov.
Even with the Nets about to lose one of the most respected men in the business, their soon-to-be-ex-president Rod Thorn, the LeBron James free-agency quest — which begins with the Nets batting leadoff as the first team to visit bearing gold, frankincense, myrrh and lots more gold — still boils down to Prokhorov.
“Rod Thorn brought stability and respectability to that franchise,” said one Western Conference team executive who requested anonymity. “I’m sure some opposing teams are going to say to free agents, ‘Look at the Nets. They lost their president. They’re in chaos.’
“But I think the Nets’ chances of getting a top tier guy are real good because most free agents go for the money.”
And while the Nets won’t be paying any free agents more in terms of salary, Prokhorov and his worldwide network of resources can offer opportunities none can match.
“I think it’s all about their owner,” one Eastern Conference source said.
Prokhorov, rapper Jay-Z, who is a longtime friend of James as well as an owner in a minority share of the team, plus coach Avery Johnson and Thorn will head to Akron on Thursday. They will be the first of six teams to present their case to James. The presentation will start an extensive and elaborate recruitment of James.
Thorn said believes the free agent process for the top level free agents “will be over fairly quick for the top guys. I think you’ll see within a week or so guys will be doing whatever they’re going to be doing.”
That was before Friday’s revelations that Thorn would be stepping aside July 15 — one person close to the Nets exec insisted “retirement” might not be the case, that he may still work, perhaps elsewhere.
Thorn’s current contract expires Thursday. By his choice, he does not want to continue. Reports that he was unhappy with terms of a new deal — for two years at less than the $5 million per he was earning — were labeled “false” by several persons close to Thorn, who again declined comment yesterday. Those persons also claimed Thorn was working well with Prokhorov and his emissaries.
“When it was obvious how Rod was leaning late, they asked him, ‘Are you sure? Will you reconsider?'” offered one source.
Prokhorov was in the Nets draft night war room and all indications were he supported Thorn.
Thorn went through a grueling year. The team was dreadful. He had to fire a coach he was tremendously found of, Lawrence Frank. Both his parents passed away. There was the incessant mental drain of the ownership change and at the All-Star break, he had to fly to Vancouver to meet with Prokhorov.
Thorn will have a loud say in his successor and numerous names already have been mentioned. Sources close to the matter discounted two candidates – fired Portland GM Kevin Pritchard and former Phoenix owner and USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo. While candidates are sure to emerge, three early contenders are Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti, New Orleans GM Jeff Bower and Thorn’s longtime trusted lieutenant, Nets VP of Basketball Operations Bobby Marks, also viewed as a possible GM working with a president