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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 

Net Daily: With billions of Russian oligarchs money in Cyprus banks, Prokhorov writes, "Cyprus problem hasn't touched me" Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Cyprus 

Amid the ongoing presumptions in coaching circles that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov will want to pursue a marquee name for his bench this summer, given that the Nets won't have the financial flexibility to make a free-agent splash, Calipari's name is bound to resurface as a top target. Especially since Phil Jackson, who was clearly Prokhorov's dream target when Avery Johnson was ousted in late December, has shown little interest in entertaining the Brooklyn job to date. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, John Calipari 

But the strong word in coaching circles is that Calipari -- while cognizant of the fact that Prokhorov is the one owner out there who could comfortably put the sort of "Monopoly money" on the table, as one insider describes it, to trump the big bucks he makes in Lexington -- will be itching to come back with a vengeance next season after Kentucky slumped from a national championship in April 2012 all the way to a first-round loss in the NIT to Robert Morris. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, John Calipari 

Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov made it clear when he bought the team that his goal was for the team to be successful and eventually win a championship. With the Philadelphia 76ers' 101-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets Thursday, the Nets clinched their first playoff berth since 2007. "Of course I'm pleased the Nets have made the playoffs, but I can't say I'm surprised," Prokhorov said in a statement. "We have a lot of talent which is really coming together now and starting to gel. I am confident that the team's best days on the court are still ahead." USA Today Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov 

In an interview on the YES Network, P.J. Carlesimo says the last question Mikhail Prokhorov asks about any player the Nets are considering is this: "Is he gonna be a good piece on us winning a championship?" Everything else, the interim coach says, is secondary, noting that he considers the Nets owner "a perfect NBA owner." He explains that while "every owner in the League says they want to win a championship. But not a lot of them are willing to put the money out there. He’s already shown that he’s willing to do that." He also notes, as he has in the past, that he didn't decide to take the interim job until he cleared it with Avery Johnson. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, PJ Carlesimo 

Did Carlesimo receive Coach Avery Johnson’s blessing to take over as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in December 2012? When Billy King (Nets General Manager) called me, he said, "You know, we made a change this morning," which I didn’t even know about at the time. And he said, "We want you to take over the team on an interim basis," and I said, "Bill," I said, "I gotta talk to Avery." I said, "I’ll talk to Avery, and, I’ll get back to you." I went in, and I talked to Avery, and obviously he was still extremely disappointed, if not upset. And he said, "Hey, you know, that’s the way it is in this league. You gotta do what you gotta do." So the decision was really, you know, stay as assistant coach and let somebody else take the job, or try and make the best of the situation. And, (I) decided to go that route (and take the job). But it really, it still doesn’t sit, you know, as nicely as you would like it to be. Because the circumstances were never the way you wanna get a job. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Avery Johnson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, PJ Carlesimo 

Carlesimo’s thoughts on Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov: He doesn’t pretend to understand all the (basketball) workings. Billy King’s his general manager, and he values very much what Billy says. And I think he lets a coach coach. He makes it very clear to you he wants to win. To me, he’s a perfect NBA owner because, every owner in the League says they want to win a championship. But A, not a lot of them are willing to put the money out there. He’s already shown that he’s willing to do that. Secondly, he’s very serious about it. His line of questions were, if you ask about a certain player…Brook Lopez, "What’s he like?" "Well, I really like him, he’s a good big man"…, he says, "Can we win a championship with Brook Lopez at center?" "Yes." Next. And, he asked, "Strengths? Weaknesses? You like him? You don’t like him?" But the last question is always, "Is he gonna be a good piece on us winning a championship?" NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, Brook Lopez 

Talking about the Nets "Big Three" of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, Carlesimo said they are a "big plus in us attracting whoever it may be, in a trade, a free agent signing, whatever it is, whatever Billy King and Mikhail Prokhorov figure out, the direction we're going to go, I think these guys know they're part of the reason and ... they accept it and they embrace it." He explained, "Players are going to say, they want to play with Deron and Joe and Brook Lopez, that they got something good going in there. We saw what happened in Miami. We see what is kind of a trend in the league right now of the better players wanting to go where the other good players are, even if they get a little bit less attention, sometimes even a little less money. It's about rings and I think that's going to be very, very important for us going forward." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Joe Johnson, Mikhail Prokhorov, Deron Williams, Billy King, Brook Lopez 

Mikhail Prokhorov-watchers have noticed the Brooklyn Nets owner often accompanied around town by an attractive blonde. We’ve learned she’s Mila Jouravleva, a former international sales rep for Bob Weinstein. The Mikhail-Mila sightings are sparking talk of a romance. But an in-the-know spy says the connection’s for business — Prok could be backing a movie project from the former indie-film exec. Jouravleva, who keeps a low profile but has been photographed brunching with Prokhorov, denied any movie plans, telling us the billionaire “is not doing any film investments” with her. “Not true,” she said. She added that she and the mogul are just friends. Prokhorov’s rep didn’t return a request for comment. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov 

At least that's how P.J. Carlesimo feels about Mikhail Prokhorov, who's on the hook for a roughly $12.8-million luxury tax bill this season. And the Nets' tax number is expected to jump significantly in 2013-14. "You couldn't overstate it," the Nets' interim coach said Monday. "It's one of the best things an owner can do. "I think giving a coach a long-term contract is more important," he joked, "but other than that . . . I think you've got an owner who's willing to spend money and not pay lip service. All the owners go, 'We want to win a championship.' When you've got somebody that is committed to winning and expends funds to do it, give [GM Billy King and [assistant GM] Bobby Marks and these guys the resources, it's fantastic." Newsday

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Bobby Marks, Mikhail Prokhorov, Billy King, PJ Carlesimo 

With the exception of Humphries – who is being paid $12 million and is out of the rotation – all of those players are signed through at least the 2015-16 season. “In this business if you’re going to keep your own free agents, it is a huge luxury,” Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. “When you look at a team like Oklahoma City, they had to trade James Harden because of that situation. “The important thing is if you’re going to pay a luxury tax you’re going to have to have a good team. That’s the most important thing. And Brooklyn has a very good team. They’re a much-improved defensive team over what they were last year. And they have a chance if they have everybody healthy to make nice run in the playoffs.” New York Daily News

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, PJ Carlesimo 

Mikhail Prokhorov has spent time talking with Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire mayor of New York. Like Bloomberg, Prokhorov has media interests and like Bloomberg, he has a personal fortune of more than $10 billion. And now, like Bloomberg, Prokhorov would like to be the mayor of Moscow. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia, Moscow 

Over the past week and a half, ever since Prokhorov sold his stake in Polyus Gold for $3.6 billion, there have been more than a few hints in the Russian media that the Nets owner is getting ready to run for the mayor of Moscow, or at least the city Duma, or city council. The mayoral election is a year away. Prokhorov has been increasingly critical of the city administration on his blog and in tweets. In the past few months, he has attacked a new Moscow Metro policy prohibiting commuters from buying fewer that five tickets on the city subway and condemned an increase in the city vehicle tax. He's also continued to criticize Vladimir Putin, as the head of the Civic Platform party. Should he decide to run for mayor and win, it would provide him with a national stage for another run at the presidency in 2016. Prokhorov did will in Moscow in the 2012 presidential election. NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia, Moscow 

It's not a question of whether Mikhail Prokhorov – whose net worth was pegged at $13.2 billion by Forbes last March – can afford moves like these. He's clearly all-in with this big-money, big-market approach, but the Nets' decision makers are still well aware that they can't add any more high-priced pieces unless it has a significant effect on the ultimate goal of deep playoff contention. Prokhorov has expected deep playoff contention all along, but it wouldn't be wise to add someone like Smith unless they were convinced it was the sort of move that could make them a Finals contender. Meanwhile, a deal that has been reported in which Humphries would go to Charlotte for veteran shooting guard Ben Gordon (player option for $13.2 million next season, the last of his deal) remains possible as well. USA Today Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Mikhail Prokhorov, Ben Gordon 

Mikhail Prokhorov has a habit of promising dire consequences if his teams don't win championships. He's said more than once that he'll marry if the Nets don't win an NBA championship by 2015. Now, with the Winter Olympics a year away, he's told Russian writers that if the Russian Biathlon team doesn't win at least two gold medals at Sochi. "If it is less, then I retire - it means I have failed," Prokhorov told Russian writers. "Let those who come to do better." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia 

But Prokhorov, enamored with adding a big name, is expected to pursue the likes of Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, among others, in the offseason, sources said. ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mikhail Prokhorov, Jeff Van Gundy, PJ Carlesimo 

Mikhail Prokhorov and the Nets? Even better: 38.38 percent per year. HoopsHype

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners