By Ric Bucher
ESPN the Magazine

The sale of the Nets to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov has to happen by New Year's Day or it won't happen, says a league source. The team has to break ground on its proposed arena in Brooklyn before the ball drops on Dec. 31, which when the construction financing expires. Without the arena, Prokhorov's interest fades. He's still getting an incredible deal: $200M for 80% of the team and 45% ownership of the Brooklyn complex