Scotto: Brooklyn Nets strengthen team with scouting director of Denver Nuggets
The Brooklyn Nets have never needed more scouting personnel than they do this year. As every Nets fan knows, they will have four first-rounders and likely two second-rounders after their two trades with the Knicks and Rockets on June 25, 2025. Plus, the Nets could end up with the No. 1 overall pick as part of an ongoing rebuild/tank. So there’s a lot at stake.
On Wednesday, Mike Scotto again noted that there is a shakeup in the personnel. He tweeted that Drew Nicholas, who was the Denver Nuggets’ scouting director for the past two seasons, will be joining the Nets team…
The Brooklyn Nets have added Drew Nicholas to their scouting department, league sources said @hoopshype. Nicholas has served as the Director of Scouting for the Denver Nuggets for the past two years. Nicholas helped Maryland win the 2002 NCAA Championship and is originally from Long Island. pic.twitter.com/Jid1QdPc5x
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) 21 August 2024
No details on what role Nicholas will play in Brooklyn. His Twitter account simply lists him as a “scout” for the Nets.
It was the third time Scotto has reported personnel changes. Last month, he noted that former Seton Hall star Andre Barrett had also joined…
The Brooklyn Nets have hired Andre Barrett as a scout, league sources said @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
Previously, Scotto reported that Oronde Taliaferro, who worked as a scout for Brooklyn, is moving to the Phoenix Suns as scouting director…
The Phoenix Suns hire Oronde Taliaferro as scouting director, league sources said @hoopshype. He is expected to focus on college scouting. Taliaferro was previously a scout for the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/jVwgLE8RB2
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) 12 August 2024
The scouting changes are the latest personnel decisions reported to Brooklyn’s management but not yet officially made.
Jim McDonnell, who was the Nets’ assistant video coordinator for the past two years, has taken over as head coach. Travis Bader, the previous head video coordinator, is now an assistant coach with the Nets.
Makar Gevorkian, who replaced longtime Nets employee Matt Tellem as capologist after Tellem left for the Suns, has also inherited Tellem’s title as vice president of basketball operations for alignment and strategic planning.
Among the major jobs still up for grabs are those of deputy GM and co-head of the performance team, which were vacated by the departures of Jeff Peterson and Les Gelis.
