There are myriad sightlines to Mikhail Prokhorov's purchase of the New Jersey Nets. Locally, the injection of capital saves the team's move to Brooklyn. Thanks to Prokhorov's immense wealth -- only Portland's Paul Allen has fatter assets -- the Nets will surely become major spenders in coming years. And nationwide, the entrance of a Russian capitalist into such a high-profile American industry will surely draw massive attention, both good and bad.But Dave D'Allesandro of the Newark Star-Ledger has his mind on the Nets basketball management structure. Rod Thorn, the team's basketball ops boss, is entering the final year of his contract. Same for coach Lawrence Frank. D'Alessandro notes that in his Tuesday LiveJournal entry detailing his interest in the Nets, Prokhorov cited the promotion of Russian coaches and managers as a driving force behind his potential entry to the NBA.
What that means for our comrades in East Rutherford ... well, it is not good. Like Dave D., I have a hunch Thorn, Frank, Kiki Vandeweghe and the rest of the staff will be saying "dasvidania" at season's end.
New owners habitually jettison management when taking over a team -- it's an accepted practice going back to the 1970s. And Prokhorov's a special case: he has money, he has nationalistic pride, he has a desire to further the careers of his countrymen and friends, he has an aching need to win (as seen with his CSKA Moscow club) and he has completely carte blanche. If Thorn's contract extended into 2010-11, perhaps you could see Prokhorov holding off on the upheaval. But the new owner has literally no incentive to stay with the status quo.
Maybe there's even an anti-incentive to staying with Thorn beyond April. I mean, the Nets have oodles of cap space this summer, and every superstar alive will be a free agent. July 1, 2010 is the opportunity for the Nets. Prokhorov is going to want his people in place for that.
Frank is good coach and will find a job quickly. Thorn, who has been around forever, might end up back at the league office (he's close with commissioner David Stern). But wherever they go, I am fairly convinced it won't be Brooklyn.
Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Obama Delivers Commencement Speech At Morehouse College
Obama Approval Rating Not Hurt By Scandals
TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads
Issa Comes To White House Rescue
WATCH: 'SNL' Takes On IRS Scandal
Radio Host Makes Shocking Claim About Shooting Hillary Clinton
What Went Wrong? Gallup Shares New Details
Report: Iran Executes Men Convicted Of Spying For U.S., Israel
College Student Accidentally Killed During 'Crime Of Opportunity'
Paul Ryan On Benghazi: 'I Don't Know' If There Was A Cover-up
The Dangerous Duty Of Diplomats
Republican Warns Of Modern-Day Hitler Invasion
Gunmen Kill Prominent Female Politician In Pakistan
Pope: 'If Banks Fail It is A Tragedy, If People Die Of Hunger It's Nothing'
Did Broken Rail Cause Commuter Train Crash?
WATCH: Oxbow Dominates Preakness, Dashes Triple Crown Hopes
LA Doctor Gets 14 Years For This Horrible Promise
How Kidnapping Suspect Passes Time Behind Bars
Up To 60 Injured After Car Drives Into Virginia Parade
Colbert At U.Va.: You Owe The Previous Generation Nothing
Bill Maher Spoofs Tea Party Tax Forms
Targets In IRS Scandal Make Little Sense
Taxed More Than Their Income?
New York Man Killed In Alleged Anti-Gay Hate Crime
These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord
Is Climate Change Increasing Tornado Intensity?
VITO TO RESIGN MONDAY
Al Qaeda Militants Killed In Drone Strike In Yemen
Twitter Will Damn Your Soul, Religious Cleric Says
