More From Times Writer on Jay-Z

David Halbfinger, who wrote the Times story on Jay-Z's role with the Nets, spoke to an online magazine about the process of reporting the story and what else he learned about the relationship. Halbfinger told The Launch Magazine that Jay-Z not only failed to cooperate on the story, but tried to kill it.

He explains how Jay-Z's holdings in the Nets and Barclays Center shrunk so much, discusses whetther he gets "sweetheart" deals from the Nets; details Jay-Z's efforts to recruit LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Shareef Abdur-Rahim and claims "brand" issues kept him away when they were 12-70.

Now, however, Halbfinger says Jay-Z has multiple financial interests in the team and arena. "He’s got four different business lines going here," he said of the relationship. "He has the advertising agency [that had the commission for the transition from New Jersey and Brooklyn], the club [the 40-40 Club opening inside the arena], the clothing [a Rocawear store on the ground floor at the arena] and the champagne [the Armand de Brignac Champagne Bar in the "Vault"] and who knows if there is more."

• JAY-Z: THE ALLURE OF OWNERSHIP - The Launch Magazine