The Brooklyn Nets may not be one of the best teams in the NBA just yet, but owner Mikhail Prokhorov thinks they can get there if two things happen.
"One more good player, and we need time to make a really strong team," Prokhorov told Bloomberg Television during an interview in Moscow last Friday.
Getting another good player, however, will be challenging because the Nets are well over the salary cap. After this season, their best chance of doing so will likely be trying to package the $12 million expiring contract of Kris Humphries, a young player on a cheap deal like MarShon Brooks and future draft picks.
When asked about Prokhorov's comments, Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo joked: "You think I would disagree with Mr. Prokhorov? That is an astute statement.
"Having said that, I love the 15 players that we have, and next year -- [NBA PR man] Tim [Frank] is it all right to go with that? -- the NBA is expanding to 16, so it won't impact any of the guys currently on the roster," Carlesimo continued, jokingly. "So Mikhail's right and I love all of our players now."
Prokhorov, who set a goal of winning a championship within five years after he gained control of the organization in 2010, believes his team has a chance to take the title this season.
"If we have a great team spirit, great passion, we can beat anyone in the league," Prokhorov said. "We are not underdogs, that's for sure."