In business and life it’s all about timing.

Rod Thorn’s exit isn’t coming at the optimal time for the Nets, but it was somewhat expected. Here are two things the Nets have done that are well timed.

If you’re anywhere near Madison Square Garden, take a look at a building on 34th and 8th and you will see most of Mikhail Prokhorov’s face and by tomorrow Jay-Z’s face will be complete.

By Thursday – the start of the free-agent negotiation period – the entire 225-x-95-foot mural featuring Prokhorov and Jay-Z standing next to each other with “The Blueprint For Greatness” and a Nets logo on it will be complete. It strategically overlooks the Garden.

“That billboard is the anchor to an aggressive marketing platform for key transit hubs from Manhattan to Newark,” said Nets CEO Brett Yormark, the likely mastermind behind this.

“It’s a pretty aggressive campaign around free agency. It’s one of the biggest advertising spaces in the city. What better place to make a statement.”

One statement certainly seems to be that the Nets wanted the Knicks to know they plan to be winners in free agency if not rule the big city. Remember what Prokhorov said last month:

“I have only one secret. We’re going to turn Knicks fans into Nets fans. It’s a part of success.”

Both teams have made LeBron James their top free-agent target. The Nets may be treated like second-class citizens because they’re in New Jersey, but they’ll be in Brooklyn within three years and may be ahead of the Knicks on James’ list.

Two reasons are Prokhorov and Jay-Z – both of whom will be in Ohio on Thursday when the Nets are the first team to sit down with James.

So much for Jay-Z not having any part in free agency.

The other well-timed event – a little more than 24 hours before the free-agent negotiation period begins – is today’s announcement that they’ve begun pouring concrete for the foundation of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The promise of playing in Brooklyn will come up at some point, we’re sure, during the Nets’ meetings with free agents.