THE Brooklyn Nets have never needed a scouting group like they did this year. As any Nets fan knows, after their two trades with the Knicks and the Rockets on June 25, they’ll have four first-round picks and likely two second-round picks in 2025. Plus, with a rebuild/tank underway, the Nets could end up with the No. 1 overall pick. So the stakes are high.
On Wednesday, Mike Scotto again stressed that the staff is in flux. He tweeted that Drew Nicholas, who was the Denver Nuggets’ director of scouting for the past two seasons, will be joining the Nets’ staff…
The Brooklyn Nets have added Drew Nicholas to their scouting department, league sources said. @hoopshype. Nicholas spent the last two years as the director of recruiting for the Denver Nuggets. Nicholas helped Maryland win the NCAA championship in 2002 and is a Long Island native. pic.twitter.com/Jid1QdPc5x
-Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 21, 2024
No details are given about what role Nicholas will play in Brooklyn. His Twitter account simply lists him as a “scout” for the Nets.
This is the third time Scotto has reported personnel changes. Last month, he noted that former Seton Hall great Andre Barrett was also added…
The Brooklyn Nets have hired Andre Barrett as a scout, league sources say @hoopshype. Barrett was a local star at Rice High School and Seton Hall University before playing four NBA seasons. He worked for the NBA for four years and was the director of scouting for the G League Ignite pic.twitter.com/Y99RZRTx55
-Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 23, 2024
Earlier, Scotto reported that Oronde Taliaferro, who was a scout for Brooklyn, was joining the team. Phoenix Suns as director of scouting…
Phoenix Suns hire Oronde Taliaferro as director of scouting, league sources say @hoopshypeHe is expected to focus on college recruiting. Taliaferro was previously a scout for the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/jVwgLE8RB2
-Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 12, 2024
The hiring changes are the latest reported — but not yet official — personnel moves in Brooklyn’s leadership.
Jim McDonnell, who was the Nets’ assistant video coordinator for the past two years, is now the Nets’ head coach. Travis Bader, who was the Nets’ head video coordinator, is now an assistant coach.
Makar Gevorkian, who replaced longtime Nets staffer Matt Tellem as capologist after Tellem left for the Suns, also inherited Tellem’s title, vice president of basketball operations for roster and strategic planning.
Among the key positions yet to be announced are assistant general manager and co-director of the performance team, left vacant by the departures of Jeff Peterson and Les Gelis.
