Prokhorov Talks With Inner Circle About LeBron And His Brand

Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov after meeting with LeBron James last week told team officials that James "would benefit greatly on a global scale" by signing with the Nets "because of the synergy he'd have with Prokhorov and Nets minority owner Jay-Z," according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. An NBA source provided ESPN with notes from the conference call Prokhorov held last week "with some of his top executives from the Nets and Onexim, his holding company, to discuss his strategy and impressions." Prokhorov said if James elects to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with the Heat, he has a "very high chance to win two or three titles" but also could "diminish the LeBron brand." Prokhorov also contends that other contenders for James -- the Bulls, Knicks and Clippers -- do not have a "clear-cut strategy for winning championships." Prokhorov appeared "very optimistic about the Nets' chances" of signing James, and said that the free agent's "brand would experience global expansion from Day 1." The Nets owner said that he has "great respect for James' inner circle," led by LRMR Marketing CEO Maverick Carter, and that he "understands the challenge it faces in making such a monumental decision." Prokhorov also said that he was "very impressed" with CAA's Henry Thomas, the agent for both Wade and Bosh. But Prokhorov contends it was a "dilemma to try and convince him to think on a global scale." He said that he believes Thomas "had rarely, if ever, been confronted with a globally based package, 'especially under such an intense spotlight.'" If the Nets fail to land James, Prokhorov said that the team "will seek to add other players, while also saving enough money to be active in free agency next summer" ( ESPN.com, 7/6 ). A Nets source said, "We will not spend just for the sake of it. You preserve your cap space and add players through trades and (second-tier) free agents" ( N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/6 ). THE TIES THAT BIND : YAHOO SPORTS' Adrian Wojnarowski reported CAA's William Wesley, a longtime advisor to James, has been "muscled out of the process in the past week or so, with teams insisting that communication to James goes directly" through Carter. The "wresting back of power into James’ Akron-based camp goes a long way to securing the Cavs’ chances for re-signing James." This could "preserve James’ future with the Cavaliers, because those surrounding him will eagerly validate his decision to take more money, stay home and keep them all relevant in his career and life." James' representatives last week "turned this courtship of presentations into a marketing tool for the breadth of his brand, into a visual of the heavy-hitter suitors ultimately being rebuffed out of James’ loyalty and love for Cleveland" ( SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/4 ). IF YOU CAN STAND THE HEAT ...  In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay reported the Heat have "officially launched a new online season ticket sales system" in anticipation of seeing an "uptick in season ticket sales once this summer's NBA free agents decide where they will be playing." Both Wade and Bosh are expected to sign with the Heat. The "Heat SeatPick" ticketing system, designed by the team's IT department, "allows fans to check seat availability in real time and purchase tickets without needing to speak with a sales representative." The system also includes a 3D "seat viewer that shows views from the AmericanAirlines Arena stands" ( SUN-SENTINEL.com, 7/1 ). Talalay reported while players cannot officially sign with a team until tomorrow, the Heat are "already prepared and selling jerseys." Fans can place a pre-order on Heat.com, and the jerseys will be "shipped out 14 business days after the new players choose their numbers" ( SUN-SENTINEL.com, 7/4 ).

Prokhorov Believes LeBron Would Tarnish His Brand By Playing Alongside Bosh, Wade