Of the oft-mocked billboard erected across the street from MSG showing himself arm in arm with Jay-Z, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov says, “I think Jay and I look really great and I am looking into the possibility of buying this building and having it shipped back to Moscow and put it across the Red Square near the Kremlin. As the Nets emerge from a largely fruitless free agency hunt, The Wild & Crazy Guy of Newark preceded the introduction of newly hired GM Billy King with pleas for patience. And more jokes. From The Star-Ledger’s Dave D’Alessandro :

œI … I … I feel no optimism in this room, the Nets owner said with a chuckle to the seven reporters seated around the conference table.

Hard as he tried to sell his plan(s), the Russian businessman didn™t seem to appreciate that he was rebranding what the average Nets fan had endured just a few months ago, only with a more credible coach, two rookies, and four new complementary players ” three that probably wouldn™t even crack the rotation in Orlando or L.A.

œI think in the next three years we have great trade opportunities and we have really good trading assets and a really deep bench, Prokhorov said. œThat™s why I™m really satisfied. I understand that fans they feel a little bit upset, a little angry maybe. I think they will like this team very soon.

Within five years anyway. In the meantime, Prokhorov has one request to make of those who were promised a playoff berth next season.

œBe patient. Support our team. We will win for sure, he said. œAnd trust me, the next season will be completely different ” aggressive, young. Now we have a really good ambition: to beat Miami Heat.