Prokhorov: Nets need 1-2 players to be 'championship contender'
The 10-27 tire fire that is the Brooklyn Nets, the same team that just fired their head coach and dismissed their general manager, are right on the cusp of contention, says team owner Mikhail Prokhorov.
In a recent interview with the YES Network (transcribed by ESPN's Mike Mazzeo), Prokhorov was positively upbeat about his team's outlook despite their miserable start to the year.
"We have a lot of young talented guys Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, we are expecting Chris McCullough is coming soon, so we have Markel Brown and a lot of young talent. We have experienced players like Brook Lopez, like Thaddeus Young they are just in (their) prime," Prokhorov said.
"So maybe we need one, two players to make a championship contender. And I'll do my best and all the organization will do our best to reach the goal this summer."
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Prokhorov could have his eyes on top-tier free agents when he mentions "one or two players." Brooklyn obviously isn't very good this season, but that could change on a dime if it landed, say, Kevin Durant or DeMar DeRozan this summer.
The Nets will have plenty of cap room, Prokhorov's pockets are nearly limitless, and they've pulled off hasty rebuilds in the past.
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However, getting star players to sign on with the Nets has proven to be difficult. They whiffed on the likes of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in the summer of 2010, they missed out (twice) on Dwight Howard, and the only star they signed (Deron Williams) regressed sharply and was ultimately bought out after a miserable five-year run.
As for Prokhorov's resounding faith in his current roster, well, it's a bit far-fetched. The three young prospects he mentioned have combined for a total of 106 NBA points, and while Lopez and Young are talented contributors, they're far from stars.