Nets Introduce New General Manager Sean Marks
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New Nets general manager Sean Marks says he's ready to see if he can apply the things he's learned while playing for, coaching and working in the front office of the San Antonio Spurs to another organization.
On Friday at Barclays Center, the Nets introduced Marks, who they named their new GM a day earlier.
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Marks, 40, said one of the reasons he accepted the position was because he and team owner Mikhail Prokhorov share a similar vision and that he knows Prokhorov is committed to building a winner in Brooklyn.
Marks said he will immediately begin the evaluation process.
"It'll be evaluating the roster, the staff, the needs, finding out what can be put in in the meantime," he said. "This is by no means a wasted year."
Marks added that there are some solid pieces currently in place, including talented, young players who just need time to develop.
Of course, the biggest decision ahead for Marks will be hiring a new head coach, although it doesn't appear he will make that decision alone. Dmitry Razumov, chairman of the Nets' board of directors, said it will be a "process driven by Sean."
Marks most recently served as the Spurs' assistant general manager. He was also a member of two Spurs title teams as a player (2003 and 2005) and one as an assistant coach (2014).
"The culture of the team that Sean is coming from was too persuasive," said Razumov, who added that the Nets interviewed eight candidates.
Said Marks: "It's certainly special there (in San Antonio). But I think 'culture' is a term that gets thrown around too loosely. The people within this organization are going to define the culture here."
The Nets, who entered Friday's game against the Knicks with a 14-40 record, were searching for a new general manager and head coach after GM Billy King was reassigned and coach Lionel Hollins was fired on Jan. 10.
Marks will face some challenges in rebuilding the roster. Because of the 2013 trade for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, the Nets still owe the Celtics their 2016 and 2018 first-round draft picks plus the right to swap slots in the 2017 draft.
Marks didn't sound overly concerned about the lack of draft choices.
"Draft picks are one way to build a team, but there are several other places and other ways to do it," he said, adding he'll look to free agency and developing players in the D-League.
The team could have about $40 million in salary cap space to spend this offseason.
