The New Jersey Nets Will be a Threat
The New Jersey Nets could now be the team to beat in the East within 4-5 years. Why of all sudden are they going to be big? The richest man in Russia has agreed to buy 80 percent of team. His estimated worth is about $9.5 billion. His name is Mikhail Prokhorov and I know if he has way he’ll get the best talent possible. He is buying the Nets for approximately 200 million dollars. Sounds like a lot of money doesn’t it? To him it’s probably a small price to pay for being involved in a sport that has become a global phenomenon thanks to players like Yao Ming from China and Prokhorov’s fellow countrymen Andrei Kirilenko.
New Jersey is not really known for being a big-market team but because of all the money coming into ownership it will become a big market team. It’s also close enough to New York where players could get some sponsorship deals. I don’t think they will contend this year because the deal hasn’t officially happened yet and when it does it will be to late to pick up any real good free agents. In the 2010-11 season they will be a team to contend with and will probably be one of the top five teams in the NBA. This guy will get the best talent he can find and pay them as much as it takes to win a championship. As for who might coach this team? Lawrence Frank has been there for awhile now but you never know what new ownership might do. I cannot wait to see what this new owner does with team. I think some big things are about to happen in New Jersey. Stay tuned for more because a lot of things are going to happen.
I don't think you can say a team is going to be successful just because the owner is loaded. I'm pretty sure that the Knicks routinely have one of the highest payrolls in the NBA, and they usually suck a lot of ass as well. Payroll means dick if your front office and GM are idiots with it.
As far as the talent on the Nets goes, they don't have much *at all*. From a quick browsing of their roster I see Devin Harris and…….Courtney Lee? Really, that's it.
Saying that they will be the team to beat in 4-5 years is a little lofty, as a *ton* can happen in the NBA in that amount of time. In four years they'll probably still be pulling their teeth out from having them kicked in by the Orlando Magic (who ARE going to be monsters for the next few years), and whoever LeBron is playing for.
If the stars align and the Nets suddenly begin drafting well, a ton of payroll is added to sign a premier player next offseason, and they actually made good free agent decisions then they could be pretty good. But even if they do all this, it'll be tough for them to become the best team in the East.
I am going to go with the old philosophy WWE had….Anything can happen, and I mean anything can happen in sports because sports aren't scripted. At least I hope not anyways