OT: Simmons' Guide to Mikhail Prokhorov
Yesterday Bill Simmons published an idiot's guide to new Nets owner (and 6'8" Russian playboy billionaire) Mikhail Prokhorov.
It's a pretty good Simmons piece (nice balance of wit and info), and Prokhorov really is an interesting guy. The Sports Guy makes his usual run of overly specific predictions on how this guy will pan out, and among them was one I found genuinely intriguing: the possibility that Prokhorov gives Phil Jackson an offer he can't refuse this summer, with the Lakers supposedly asking the greatest NBA coach of all time to take over a 50% cut. Bill speculates $85 million for five years.
Being a Nets fan (there are still a few of us left) I am sumpremely excited about Prokhorov. The Phil Jackson thing is very intriguing because he has been talking about now for awhile and the paycut seems real. Even his girl Jeanie Buss said he may leave so we'll see what happens. But this is the headline I am hoping for:
Phil Jackson signs 5 Year $100 Million Contract to Coach the Nets
100 million dollars for a coach is probably one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. It's about who you put on the floor, not who is coaching them. You wanna pay a coach A-Rod money? No thanks. Not that Jackson would even contemplate coaching in New Jersey.
Edit: I stand by the opinion, but the fashion in which I wrote it was way too harsh lol. I'm really not that mean.
Would Phil Jackson go to the nets if there isn't a good team in place though? I don't see Jackson as the rebuilding type.
Agreed, but maybe a couple decent moves this summer could make him think it's serviceable until a Prokhorov/Jackson duo persuade 'Melo to join them next summer, just in time for the move to Brooklyn.
He's a good but severely overrated coach, having come into situations with ridiculous amounts of talent. That being said, he was able to bring that extra push to convert a shaq/kobe team from being contenders to favorites and champions right away. More a commentary on who he replaced (Harris/Rambis). God I hate living in LA sometimes.
I agree with you for the most part. Jackson has had some of the greatest players to work with on his teams. Still, he has to be able to get everyone to work together on the court which can be difficult when big egos are involved. He somehow made it work with Shaq and Kobe which I think would have been extremely difficult. Also, he got the Lakers to the playoffs in his first year back when they didn't really have any great players to compliment Kobe. I actually did not hear the L.A. wanted Jackson to take a pay cut. I had read reports that Jackson was thinking of retiring for health reasons. I believe he has had both hips replaced. Though I did hear a report the other day that Jackson would most likely come back for one more season if L.A. wins it all this year. I am sure that opportunity to have three "three-peat's" would be too much to pass up.
When speaking of his sense of humor Simmons should've included this:
Mikhail Prokhorov, new owner of the 12-70 Nets, started off with a joke during his news conference in Manhattan: "It is a great pleasure to be here as the new owner of the Nets, the team with the best record in the whole NBA. ... Uh, was I misinformed?"
Just outstanding
Even though they had a god awful year last year they can easily make a couple moves to be in the mix next year. You draft a big man in the draft at the three spot to help Brook Lopez first. Then you can sign some wing players in free agency as well to help the cause then you get this:
Center- Brook Lopez
Power Forward-Draft Selection
Small Forward- Free Agent
Shooting Guard- Free Agent
Point Guard- Devin Harris
Then you could have Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams off the bench and that team would be in the mix next year and for years to come because they would still be pretty young.
As much as Simmons loves this guy, everything I read is what you hear from almost every guy who runs a team when they hold a press conference. It is easy to talk about being patient and having a focused approach from the sidelines, but go 12-70 again and expect the money to flow and the big-name coach to be hired.
He's an interesting dude. Loves sports, is a winner, and has deep pockets. he has the will to win and tons of money, which means he'll attract top talent - in the front office, coaching staff, and players... . and with the Nets moving to Brooklyn in a couple years... having a nice new arena and actually being in NYC rather than Jersey, the Nets will be a contender within a couple years.
He made CSKA Moskow a contender in Europe, why can't he do it here?
Yes Euro-ball is different, but with the right moves I definitely see the Nets rising and perhaps competing for a championship within these next 10 years.
Euroleague doesn't have a salary cap, which I think is a pretty major difference to consider when using Prokhorov's past as a future indicator.
money from. It's virtually impossible to be financially successful in Russia without the aid and assistance from Russian organized crime, and the corrupt government thugs who enable it.
... some ex-KGB types just logged your IP address.
I suggest changing your locks, and pulling down your blinds.
And be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
If I'm Prokhorov I'd hire some good New Jersey lawyers! Apparently the NBA thoroughly checked him out and he came up clean, so you've got to give him the benefit of the doubt. At the same time, there is that fishy gap in his resume in the mid-90s.....