In the past I would say that NJ would have trouble keeping him. But remember, Prokhorov is the owner now. I really believe he going to turn that franchise into a winner, it is just going to take some time. Considering he is the owner in teh NBA with the deepest of pockets and not just throwing money around tells me he is a smart bussiness man. He has built russian teams into winners in Russia, I think he can do the same here. He may have missed out on some big FA's, but I believe his(Prokhorov/NJ) time is coming. I keep hearing they are moving the team to Brooklyn (with a huge russian population there) and that would get DWill out of NJ.
The move to Brooklyn is happening in two years, which is right after when D-Will can become a free agent. If he chooses not to sign an extension, he will have never played for the Russian Nyets in NYC. In addition, Prokhorov and other rich owners can only do so much in terms of spending with the salary cap in place, and will only be more hardpressed to spend after the new CBA. In Russia he could use his status and money to effectively buy or entice players to his team, much like the Yankees do in baseball.
The Nets are effectively the Clippers East in terms of being a little brother to the Knicks in the city even after they move to Brooklyn. Don't believe me? Just look at Carmelo. He was BORN in Brooklyn, and has said he is a Brooklyn man through and through. If the Nets, Prokhorov and Jay Z really had that much pull you don't think they could have convinced Melo to spend a season and a half rebuilding in Jersey before a triumphant return to his home borough will an extension in hand? The fact that he would spurn his borough's team and the Mutant Russian Mark Cuban simply shows they the Nyets do not have the drawing power the Knicks do in the city despite the aforementioned advantages they possess.
Now the Nyets are stuck with a presumably unhappy star PG, who they will have trouble locking up and could be a free agent next summer, with no other real viable players or assets besides Brook Lopez and their 2 remaining first round picks. I honestly think by giving up Favors and the 2 other 1st rounders they have gambled an awful lot on the hopes they can convince one player to sign an extension when nothing is assured. If D-Will spurns them this summer they put themselves in another Melo situation where they will be effectively forced into trading him for as much as they can get or letting him test the free agent market, and could possibly be left with much less than they previously had. It's just my opinion, but I think they might have gambled too much on this deal and left themselves wide open to be a bottomfeeder for years.
