NBA

How Nets went LeBust come ‘Decision’ time

Nets Russian billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s private jet landed in Chicago from Cleveland near midday July 1. Accompanying Prokhorov was a troupe of the franchise’s top echelon executives and pitchmen.

On touchdown, Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks, then director of basketball operations, got a phone call — then-Nets president Rod Thorn was on the line following the free agency meeting with LeBron James.

“Be prepared to clear more cap space,” Thorn told Marks, who gathered all feasible ways the Nets could increase their $30.1 million free agency stockpile.

“We wanted to be able to sign two guys,” explained Thorn, now the president of the 76ers. “My feeling was that to get LeBron, we had to sign another top-level free agent.”

So Marks found more ways to free space in the pursuit of James and Chris Bosh, who ultimately signed in Miami to play with Dwyane Wade. The three will play in Newark today, obviously wearing Heat uniforms.

The Nets gave it their best in an extensive pitch to James in Cleveland then in shorter ones to Wade and Bosh that night in Chicago. The Nets liked how matters unfolded and believed they were in the James mix.

“There was a really good feeling that the presentation went as well as it could,” Marks said.

The Nets gave all three players personalized iPads outlining the pitch. The most extensive presentation was for LeBron, centering around Prokhorov’s ability to establish him on a global par with David Beckham. Thorn said James, accompanied by agent Leon Rose and business partner Maverick Carter, was attentive and inquisitive.

Prokhorov pitched his global business network and branding. Hip-hop mogul and longtime James friend Jay-Z stressed entertainment opportunities. Coach Avery Johnson laid out how James would anchor a young team. Thorn reminded how the once-dormant Nets went to two NBA Finals under his watch. Nets CEO Brett Yormark presented marketing plans. Prokhorov’s Onexim Company CEO Dmitry Razumov spoke on business ventures.

“We thought we had a chance,” Thorn recalled, “because of the business opportunities, because of the move to Brooklyn, because of an owner’s desire to make his club the best team in the league.”

“We were cautiously optimistic,” Marks said. “We got positive feedback right after. But it was hard to gauge because we were the first team. Everyone felt LeBron was genuinely intrigued.”

Then disappointment began. Rudy Gay, the backup plan, re-signed with Memphis. The Nets never got to present a front-loaded deal that would have been tough for Memphis to match. No worries. James was the big fish.

What went wrong?

“When you have the worst record in the league, it’s not easy,” Prokhorov said.

Marks and Thorn gave a laundry list of why James and Bosh (they felt all along Wade never would leave Miami for New Jersey) snubbed the Nets. The stigma of a 12-70 record plus two years in Newark were killers. Others inside the franchise believe the groundwork was set at the 2008 Olympics and the Nets had no chance going in.

“We never got any correspondence from LeBron’s camp after the first meeting,” Marks said. “When it was a three-, four-day stretch that we didn’t hear, we knew we were out.”

By the morning of July 6, the Nets heard the bad news through backchannels. One hour before James’ July 8 “The Decision” show, Rose called Thorn and said the Nets were eliminated. The previous day the Nets tried to meet with Carlos Boozer, offering $75 million for five years. The Bulls offered $80M. Boozer’s camp asked the Nets for $85M. Enjoy Chicago, said the Nets.

So James, Bosh, Wade, Gay and Boozer ultimately, through trades and signings, became Travis Outlaw, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow and Troy Murphy.

“I never say never, but I think this was a one-time free agency [market]. The rules may change now,” Thorn said. “We thought we were in it, but if you read all of James’ quotes since, his best chance to win was Miami.”

fred.kerber@nypost.com