Brooklyn Nets add scouts, staff

The Nets have not only added to their assistant coaches. They've hired two new regional college scouts and additional staff as well. Among the hires: the brother of assistant GM Frank Zanin, who had been advance scout for the Clippers.

The addition of T. J. Zanin and Eddie Oran brings to eight the number of scouts on the Nets staff. They fill new positions, don't replace anyone. The Nets had previously announced that Jim Sann would return to the team as advance scout. When Mikhail Prokhorov took control of the Nets in May 2010, the Nets had three scouts.

Adam Ratner is also an addition to the basketball operations staff. He will work with Milton Lee, who oversees the Nets D-League affiliate. Ratner is the son of the CEO of Forest City Enterprises, Forest City Ratner's corporate parent, and Bruce Ratner's cousin.

Here are thumbnail profiles of the scouts:

Zanin has worked in various roles for NBA teams as well as USA Basketball. He worked most recently as advance scout for Clippers. He's also been a scout for the 76ers (under Billy King and with his brother) and a video coordinator for the Grizzlies. He's currently international scout for Team USA and will be scouting FIBA Eurobasket for USA Basketball. As a 6'5" guard in college, he had a tryout with the Trail Blazers in 2001. He is based on Phoenix.

Eddie Oran is a basketball lifer, spending 16 seasons as assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Texas, six seasons at Ole Miss and two seasons coaching in high schools. He has called UT games on local radio in Austin and runs a company that installs high-end basketball goals. He is based in Austin.

By adding scouts based in the west and southwest, the Nets return to a regional system, the way King operated while with the 76ers.

Adam Ratner, son of Charles Ratner, has worked for the Cavaliers as a basketball operations assistant and for websites that track analytics and the NBA draft. Also added: Jenn Cerreto as Jason Kidd's executive assistant. She's worked as Kidd's personal assistant for nearly 20 years.