Prokhorov Makes Difference for King

John McMullen of The Sports Network offers both an rationale for -- and a caution about -- Billy King's success so far in free agency. Having one of the world's richest men as your owner provides King with something he never had as Sixer GM, a "safety net," writes McMullen. But he adds, King could use one because of his tendencies in Philadelphia to play "ATM to a host of players in decline as well as a number of glorified role players."

"The Sixers have always acted small- time in a large market. Mistakes on South Broad Street are treated like the end of the world and a big one will set the organization back for years," writes McMullen, who covered the 76ers. "King's safety net in Brooklyn, however, is Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, an owner intent on making the Nets relevant no matter the mistakes and the price tag it costs to make them disappear."

McMullen says for example Sixer management would never have allowed King to make the bold deal for Joe Johnson that swayed Deron Williams to stay. Now, the Nets "will have morphed from laughingstock to championship contender simply because Prokhorov wants Brooklyn to be big time," McMullen concludes.

• The Sixth Man: Nets move from hapless to hip - John McMullen - The Sports Network