Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov yesterday while addressing the media for the first time in 10 months "sidestepped an inquiry about his desire to remain owner, but when pressed proclaimed that he is only listening to offers for minority shares of the team," according to Stefan Bondy of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Prokhorov: "My position is that I will not give up control of the team. But you know, I am quite happy when somebody sending me a nice offer without taking my control of team. I think, for the time being, nothing is imminent, but still I think it’s not bad just to listen. We have a lot of proposals to buy minority shares but it’s my desire to just listen." Prokhorov also acknowledged for the first time that "dealing three first-round draft picks" last summer for Fs Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett "was at least partially motivated by marketing -- or 'building the brand.'" Bondy notes the Nets last year lost $144M "in the basketball operations department -- by far the most in the NBA." But Prokhorov "essentially laughed off the losses." He said, "It’s not a big deal just because I personally compensated this money from my pocket and that’s why I will keep the structure for the time being" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/4). In N.Y., Tim Bontemps notes Prokhorov "declined to comment" when asked whether he was "interested in acquiring" Forest City Ratner Companies Exec Chair Bruce Ratner's available 20% stake in the franchise. Prokhorov was also "quick to praise" Nets GM Billy King. Prokhorov added that the Nets "just need to stay healthy and have a 'little bit of luck' to be contenders this season" (N.Y. POST, 11/4).
NO MORE NOVELTY? The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Alex Raskin notes the Nets' home opener last night against the Thunder "was officially a sellout, but in a contrast from 2012, when the Nets were opening Barclays Center, and from 2013, when they were unveiling a new lineup" that included Pierce and Garnett, the buildup to this year’s home opener "was somewhat understated." Further "dulling the hype" last night, the game "was the 30th and final home opener in the NBA." Nets G Alan Anderson "couldn’t help but admit that the evening was somewhat anticlimactic for the players." However, the Nets' home opener did not go "completely unnoticed." The Empire State Building "did its part, adorning itself in white lights to give the appearance of the Nets’ team colors." The Metropolitan Transit Authority "also recognized the game by offering fans a team-branded subway card at nine subway stations across the city" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/4).
