Despite being represented by their new billionaire owner, the Nets failed to hit the draft lottery jackpot Tuesday night, instead getting the No. 3 pick and watching enviously as the Washington Wizards won the big prize and, presumably, the right to draft Kentucky point guard John Wall.
Wall, widely expected to be picked first in next month's draft, could have helped the Nets in their hunt for a new coach and new players. Instead, the Nets will now have to hope that some of Prokhorov's estimated $13.4 billion fortune is enough to entice LeBron James or other elite players expected to hit the open market July 1.
They are also looking for a coach and may have lost out on a chance to lure former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy or Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, who twice already has said that he is not interested in the job.
With the No.3 pick, the Nets are expected to choose from among Ohio State's Evan Turner, Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins, Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors and Syracuse's Wesley Johnson.
All of them are good but they're not Wall, who has blazing speed and above average size (6-4) for a point guard.
Before the lottery process played out on live television, Prokhorov mingled with other NBA executives in a dining tent set up outside the Secaucus television studio the event was held in. He will hold an introductory press conference Wednesday in Manhattan and will also appear at Yankee Stadium later in the day. But he made a huge splash on Monday night when he appeared in a video sent out to Nets season ticket holders in which he predicted the team that just finished a league-worst 12-70 would make the playoffs next season and win a championship "in one year minimum and maximum in five years."
One of the ways Prokhorov plans to do that is by using his charm and a small percentage of his fortune to acquire the best players available. Without naming names, Prokhorov thrust the Nets right into the middle of the race to sign James.
"I can convince the very best of the best that the Nets are the place they want to be," he said in the video.
The owner also revealed part of his sales pitch, saying that he will tell players that "The excitement is with the Nets. We will have a desire to win that is unmatched anywhere in the league. This will be a first-class organization with all the support it needs."
Before the lottery drawing Tuesday night, NBA commissioner David Stern met with Prokhorov and his team of advisers. Stern then told reporters that Prokhorov "seems most anxious to get to work to improve the performance of the team on and off the court."
Asked if Prokhorov might be able to use his personality to uplift the organization and recruit players, Stern said abruptly, "No."
"He's going to do it by hard work and good management," Stern said. "That's what does it. He's going to do it by drafting a good player and by surrounding that player with other good players."
Despite their dreadful season, the Nets are seen as a team with an up-and-coming core, which includes 22-year-old center Brook Lopez.
Come July 1, in addition to James, the Nets are expected to reach out to expected free agents such as Memphis' Rudy Gay, the Knicks' David Lee and possibly Amar'e Stoudemire, who can opt of his contract in Phoenix.
With the Nets' draft position now settled, team president Rod Thorn, who will himself receive a new contract soon, is also expected to begin interviewing coaching candidates shortly.
With Prokhorov now in charge, the possibilities seem endless for the Nets. Ultimately, it is the fans that will make out best, said Stern.
"It helps when people have a sense that there is a commitment to (the success of a franchise)," Stern said, "and I think people will be persuaded that (Prokhorov) is committed to that."
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