The Nets are officially finished in New Jersey, and we established earlier today that NJ governor Chris Christie won't really miss them. As the Nets close out one chapter and prepare to begin the 2012-2013 season in Brookly, Nets CEO Steve Yorkmark visited with Boomer & Carton recently on WFAN. Sports Radio Interviews has the full transcript. Excerpts after the jump.
Is it bittersweet you are leaving New Jersey?
“Personally it is a little bittersweet. I grew up going down to the rack. I was a Nets fan since I was 10 years old, but obviously I came here seven years ago to take this team to Brooklyn and one thing we have been is open and honest to the fans. We’ve said all along our intent was to go to Brooklyn and now we are finally on the brink of opening the Barclays Center and renaming and rebranding this franchise. I am very excited about.”
What’s the last year been like with getting Deron Williams and now the possibility of not having him next year in Brooklyn?
“Our point from day one has always been be good when you get to Brooklyn, so whether it was to be good two years ago or this summer? It didn’t really make a difference. The goal is we wanted to bring a good product to Brooklyn next fall. I have all of the confidence in the world with respect to Billy King and Avery [Johnson] and ownership that we will bring a good product to Brooklyn. This team is bigger than one particular player or two players, so I’m convinced we’ll look very differently going into Brooklyn and I am convinced we will have a good team that people in Brooklyn will certainly root for.”
How are you going to be good next year without first round draft picks?
“Well listen I think we have a lot of flexibility heading into the summer when you think of cap space and opportunities for Billy [King] to really maneuver this roster and I leave that up to him and Avery [Johnson] and ownership. Like I said I am convinced we are going to have a good product in Brooklyn. There’s a plan in place and maybe things didn’t unfold the way we would have liked earlier and that meaning this year or last year, but I am convinced when we get to Brooklyn we will be in better shape than we are now.”