Russian billionaire and New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is planning to run against Vladimir Putin in Russia’s upcoming presidential election.

Prokhorov, whose wealth the Forbes magazine has estimated at $18 billion, has been cautious not to cross Putin’s path in the past. But the tycoon’s candidacy may now pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by his party’s poor showing in Russia’s Dec. 4 parliamentary election and allegations of widespread fraud during the balloting.
Putin’s party only won about 50 percent of that vote, compared to 64 percent four years ago, and the fraud allegations have allowed opposition parties to successfully mount massive anti-Putin protests in Russia.

If Prokhorov is able to pull off a trade that can land him Dwight Howard with a roster whose “assets” are electric young talents like Jordan Williams, Damion James, and Anthony Morrow, he’ll probably pull the vote of the tri-state area. The Nets’ ability to land the All-Star center in advance of their move to Brooklyn would be quite the coup, and they’ve been assisted by Howard’s recent trade request.