Report: Prokhorov considering CSKA Moscow president for Nets GM

By foxsports
Published

Nets general manager Billy King's contract expires at the end of this season, and given the position the Nets are in, without many draft picks or assets moving into the future, there's a decent chance Brooklyn will have a new GM come the start of next season. 

According to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net, Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has a favorite for the position:

Mikhail Prokhorov is the full owner of the Nets and according to Eurohoops sources, Vatutin is his top choice for the job of the general manager. Billy King’s contract expires at the end of the season, things are going to change in the Nets and the president of CSKA Moscow is offered the position. This is not the first time Prokhorov wanted Vatutin in Brooklyn. Back in 2010 there were also reports about an offer to Vatutin for an undefined role. However this time things are different.

Of course, Prokhorov could recruit Vatutin, and the CSKA Moscow president may elect to stay in the cushy job he has now. 

CSKA Moscow has a rich history of success as one of Europe's best teams. The squad has multiple Eurocup championships to its name. It has countless titles from its own league. It's employed future and former NBA players and coaches. So, it's not like Vatutin would be making the jump other team presidents around European teams might.

That said, the first European GM will be a big deal even beyond the cultural implications of it. Vatutin has been working with European players for years. If he came to the NBA, he would have to learn the league's personnel quite quickly, busting in during the offseason and immediately having to sign free agents, make trades, maybe even draft college prospects. That's a lot to ask of anyone, but it does feel like we're primed for the first GM to come over from Europe. It's only a matter of time at this point.