SAN ANTONIO – MARCH 17: Sean Marks #40 and Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs sit on the sidelines during a against the Phoenix Suns at AT&T Center on March 17, 2006 in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs won 108-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Chris Birck/NBAE via Getty Images)

The long wait is over, as they Brooklyn Nets have finally found their GM in now former San Antonio Spurs executive Sean Marks.

Marks and the Nets agreed to a four-year deal, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He also details that the Nets made a significant increase in their offer to Marks to get him to accept the position.

Owner Mikhail Prokhorov gave the following statement:

After an exhaustive vetting process, we are delighted to have Sean as our General Manager. His experience on the court, in coaching and management gives him a 360 degree view of the job at hand. His background helping to build one of the greatest teams in the NBA gives him an unparalleled frame of reference. And he impressed us all with his vision, his values, his personality and his enthusiasm for the club. The vote to select him from an incredible list of talent was unanimous. We welcome Sean into our Nets family and look forward to his strong leadership and independent thinking as we build our own success story.”

 

In late January, the Nets had their search down to four candidates in Bryan Colangelo, Danny Ferry, Arturas Karnisovas, and Gersson Rosas. The intrigue with Karnisovas and Rosas was the international impact that the two would bring to the table. Colangelo was the league’s executive of the year twice, and Ferry had success with the Cavaliers and Hawks, but has become a much less attractive candidate after allegedly reading a racially charged scouting report.

The Nets appear to have gotten who they truly wanted. It’s not a bad thing to try and pick from the Spurs’ tree, as they have been a model franchise ever since their inception in 1967, having only missed the playoffs in five seasons in their entire existence.

“I am very excited to be named the General Manager of the Brooklyn Nets, and to become a member of the vibrant and dynamic organization that represents Brooklyn,” Marks said. “I would like to thank Nets’ ownership for giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge of creating a unified culture and building a winning team.”

Marks comes just in time, as the NBA trade deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET Thursday.

[The Vertical/Photo: Getty]

 

About Harry Lyles Jr.

Harry Lyles Jr. is an Atlanta-based writer, and a Georgia State University graduate.