Prokhorov hires firm, plans to sell Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are for sale. Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov retained Evercore Partners to sell the NBA team he bought in 2010, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The people requested anonymity because the matter is private. Nets spokesman Barry Baum declined immediate comment. Dana Gorman, a spokesman for Evercore with The Abernathy MacGregor Group, declined to comment.

“As we have been saying for many months, team ownership is open to listening to offers,” said Ellen Pinchuk, a spokeswoman for Prokhorov. “That’s just part of the business. There is nothing imminent in terms of the sale of any stake in the team.”