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Mikhail Prokhorov, a prominent Russian businessman and leader of the Civil Platform party, plans not only to lead the party's ticket in elections to the Moscow City Duma in 2014 but also run in a single-mandate district in the Northwestern Administrative District. "I, for instance, will run in a single-mandate district," Prokhorov said in an interview with Interfax when asked what strong Civil Platform candidates could run in single-mandate districts in the elections to the Moscow City Duma. Russia Beyond The Headlines

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia 

The Nets ownership is increasingly interwoven with the Islanders. They don't own any equity stake in Charles Wang's rising NHL team, but the Bruce Ratner - Mikhail Prokhorov combination will be the Islanders landlords in Brooklyn and have taken over the business operations of the Islanders as well. Moreover, arena ownership wants the contract to renovate Nassau Coliseum -- and believe they have an advantage over the competition, including Madison Square Garden, in that the Islanders have agreed to play six games in the new Coliseum if the Barclays Center team wins. Could MSG, that is the Rangers, stop them? "Sources" talking to the Post and ESPN claim they can. Ratner disagrees. Actually, things are beginning to get a little dicey between MSG and BC. The Post and ESPN report that the NHL and the Rangers would have to approve any games played outside the home ice of Barclays Center. "He made a promise that is not 100 percent in his hands," according to a "person familiar with the situation" quoted by ESPN New York. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Mikhail Prokhorov, James Dolan, Madison Square Garden, NHL 

In an interview on Bloomberg News Friday, Ratner dismissed the reports with just a touch of anger, When asked don't the NHL and the Rangers have to approve it, Ratner responded, "the NHL has to approve it," pointedly not mentioning the Rangers. "Given the fact that the team has been there before, the fans are going to want it, I'm sure they'll approve it." he added. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Mikhail Prokhorov, James Dolan, Madison Square Garden, NHL 

The Nets are not interested in hiring either Jeff or Stan Van Gundy for their head job, according to a source. Another league source believed that Jeff Van Gundy had strong interest in the Nets' job because owner Mikhail Prokhorov has shown he's more than willing to pay luxury tax penalties to build a roster. NBA.com

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Stan Van Gundy, Jeff Van Gundy 

And although a source confirmed Jackson met with the Nets on Monday and is reportedly Mikhail Prokhorov's top choice, the 11-time champion has stated he’s not interested in coaching and wants a front-office job. King could be opposed to that because it could diminish his role. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, Owners 

Marc Stein: Phil Jackson always the guy Prokhorov wanted. So Nets likely to chase Phil & J. Van Gundy first since coaching splash easier than roster fix Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Jeff Van Gundy, Owners 

In an extensive interview with a Russian business magazine, Irina Pavlova says that while the Nets aren't making money (yet), the value of the team is now between $700 and $800 million, up from the $220 million Mikhail Prokhorov laid out in 2010. "When we bought the team, player salaries were much lower," Pavlova told Finparty. "We know that it is virtually impossible for the team to earn (a profit) annually. This can be done only by selling it. Since our move to Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Nets value has increased by 2.5 to 3 times. The (original) deal was estimated at $220 million, now it is worth $ 700-800 million. Forbes recently estimated us at $ 530 million, but it's has since been announced that the Sacramento Kings could be sold at a price above $ 500 million." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners, Irina Pavlova 

Pavlova declined comment when asked if Prokhorov might be interested in buying the remainder of the team --he owns 80 percent of the team as well as 45 percent of the arena operating company. "This question should be addressed to Mikhail Dmitrievich, but I do not see much point in it. Mr. Prokhorov is the principal owner of the team, and he controls it." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners, Irina Pavlova 

Asked if she believes in Prokhorov's vision of a championship by 2015, she responded, "Yes, I believe. I am obliged to do it by position, but as a fan I too believe," she told reporter Guzel Gubeydullina. "Mikhail made a promise in 2010, so we have two more years. This year we go to the playoffs, so I think it's all real. Here, of course, a lot of components - health, injury, an element of luck. But this goal is achievable." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners, Irina Pavlova 

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov made overtures to Jackson for the team's head coaching position after Avery Johnson was fired this past season, and league sources expect the Russian billionaire to come calling again. The presence of an established general manager -- Billy King just signed a contract extension with Brooklyn -- would not necessarily be a prohibiting factor for Jackson to enter the fray. Jackson would serve largely as the visionary, with a day-to-day GM and front-office staff in place to execute it. CBSSports.com

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King 

Tim Bontemps: Not sure if this is out there, but I am told Mikhail Prokhorov won't be in Brooklyn for tonight's game. Twitter @TimBontemps

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners 

Mikhail Prokhorov was in Brooklyn to attend the Nets playoff games vs. the Bulls, but at the same time, his foundation, the Mikhail Prokhorov Fund, was pushing culture, promoting the fund's three-year long cultural exchange with the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The exchange is being produced by Prokhorov's sister, Irina Prokhorova, often described as one of Russia's leading intellectuals. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Brooklyn 

Mike Mazzeo: P.J. called Prokhorov comment about needing to add another player "a very astute observation." #Nets Twitter @MazzESPN

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, PJ Carlesimo 

In an interview with Bloomberg Television last week, the Nets owner said that his team needs two things in order to become a championship team by the time his guaranteed five-year window to win a title is up in 2015. “One more good player, and we need time to make a really strong team,” he said last Friday, before flying to New York and addressing the crowd inside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center before Saturday’s 106-89 Nets rout of the Bulls in the opening game of the first round series between the two teams, and the first playoff game the Nets have played since Prokhorov bought the team in May of 2010. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov 

Being a member of the Nets organization surpassed some of my greatest ambitions. It was never about an investment; it was about the NETS and Brooklyn. My job as an owner is over but as a fan it has just begun. I’m a Brooklyn Net forever. It’s been an honor to work with Mikhail Prokhorov, Dmitry Razumov, Christophe Charlier, ONEXIM Sports and Entertainment, Brett Yormark and all the wonderful people involved in making the Nets first class. My sincerest thanks goes to Bruce Ratner, who first introduced the idea of moving the Nets to Brooklyn. A thank you and deepest appreciation goes to the fans. You are the lifeblood of any team. The Nets have made their mark on the NBA and as they enter a new era, Roc Nation does as well; as we embark on Roc Nation Sports. Our newest endeavor is committed to building the brands of professional athletes as we have done for some of today’s top music artists. For Roc Nation Sports to function at its full potential, NBA rules stipulate that I relinquish my ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough decision but as I stated earlier, it’s not about ownership. Congratulations to The Nets on a great season and making the playoffs! I will always be a Brooklyn Net. lifeandtimes.com

Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z, Mikhail Prokhorov, Brett Yormark 

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov still is looking to go for a big name. Who that is beyond Phil Jackson, who isn’t coming to Brooklyn to coach? We have no idea. But Carlesimo’s excellent work as interim coach, with the team clinching at least the No. 4 seed in the East, will not get him the job on a full-time basis, unless he can get his team to the conference finals. New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, PJ Carlesimo 

P.J. Carlesimo’s understanding is that his interim status will be re-evaluated after the playoffs, leaving him with a minimum of four weeks to leave a strong impression on Mikhail Prokhorov and his basketball brain trust. “The impression from Day 1 is that when the year is over, we’ll sit down and talk,” Carlesimo told the Daily News. “There was no expectation (for me) given.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, PJ Carlesimo 

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who has been trying to get out of business and into politics, looks like he is setting his sights a bit lower after coming a distant third in last year’s presidential election. The 47-year-old tycoon now says he plans to run for a seat in the Moscow city legislature next year. “When I do something, I always work only to win,” he said in an interview aired Wednesday on state-run television channel Rossiya 24. Wall Street Journal

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia 

Silver, 50, said Stern was planning a trip to India next month. "Another country of over a billion people with a young population that loves basketball." He said the NBA is working with Brooklyn Nets Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the Russian government to further grow basketball there as well as projects to develop the game more on the continent of Africa. Silver said he believed establishing teams outside the United States was part of the NBA's future, but remained in the conceptual stage. "When we do expand, we'd need to expand probably with multiple teams, so that you wouldn't have an orphan team in Europe, but that you'd potentially have a division so those teams could play each other more often and NBA teams presumably traveling in Europe could have more teams to play when they're over there," said Silver. "It's still a concept, but I'm comfortable with it." Reuters

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, David Stern, Russia, India, Adam Silver 

I do know Prokhorov was genuinely interested in Phil Jackson; the idea that he might consider Calipari as a worthwhile fallback option seems absurd. I appreciate how Calipari has evolved as a coach, overall; he's grown measurably since his days at Memphis. But there's no basis to believe that he could take what the Nets have and make it appreciably better than it is right now. Sulia

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov