Denver, CO
Scotto: Brooklyn Nets add Denver Nuggets director of scouting to staff
The Brooklyn Nets have never needed a scouting staff like they do this year. As every Nets fan knows, following their two trades with the Knicks and Rockets on June 25, they’ll have four first rounders and likely two seconds in 2025. Moreover, with a rebuild/tank underway, the Nets could wind up with the overall No. 1. So the stakes are high.
On Wednesday, Mike Scotto noted again that the staff is in flux. He tweeted that Drew Nicholas, who’s been the director of scouting for the Denver Nuggets the past two seasons, will be joining the Nets staff…
The Brooklyn Nets have added Drew Nicholas to their scouting department, league sources told @hoopshype. Nicholas spent the past two years as Director of Scouting 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 on what Nicholas role will be in Brooklyn. His Twitter account lists him simply as a “scout” for the Nets.
It was the third time that Scotto has reported on staff changes. Last month, he noted that Andre Barrett, the former Seton Hall great, has also been added…
The Brooklyn Nets have hired Andre Barrett as a scout, league sources told @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 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’s been a scout for Brooklyn, is joining the Phoenix Suns as the director of scouting…
The Phoenix Suns are hiring Oronde Taliaferro as their Director of Scouting, league sources told @hoopshype. He’s expected to focus on college scouting. Taliaferro was previously a scout for the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/jVwgLE8RB2
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 12, 2024
The scouting changes are the latest personnel moves reported — but not yet made official — in Brooklyn’s front office.
Jim McDonnell, who has been an assistant video coordinator for the Nets the past two years, has moved into the head spot. Travis Bader who had been the head video coordinator is now an assistant coach with the Nets.
Makar Gevorkian who replaced long-time Nets staffer Matt Tellem as capologist after Tellem left for the Suns, has also inherited Tellem’s title, vice president of basketball operations for alignment and strategic planning.
Big jobs still be announced include assistant GM and co-head of the performance team, left open by the departures of Jeff Peterson and Les Gelis.