Scotto: Nets’ scout Matt Riccardi leading candidate to fill big roles

Michael Scotto revealed Thursday that two of the big holes left by recent departures —director of scouting and Long Island Nets GM — could soon be filled by Nets scout Matt Riccardi ... who had recently been pursued by the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Nets have lost four key staffers in recent weeks — Assistant GM Trajan Langdon, Global Scouting Director Gianluca Pascucci, Long Island Nets head coach Will Weaver and Assistant Coach Chris Fleming.

A little more than a week ago, the Nets hired two new assistant GMs: Jeff Peterson from the Hawks and Andy Birdsong from the Spurs. Now, Scotto writes that Riccardi, who’s served as assistant GM of Long Island as well as a scout, is a strong candidate to fill both the scouting director and G League GM roles.

Pascucci joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant general manager and left his position as global scouting director while Langdon, the G League Executive of the Year, now resides in New Orleans as general manager.

The most notable in-house candidate to assume both roles is Riccardi, who has been with the Nets for 10 years. Riccardi began as an intern, worked his way up to a scout and became the assistant general manager of the Long Island Nets last season.

While in charge of minor league scouting, Riccardi helped the Nets find Dinwiddie, Yogi Ferrell and Sean Kilpatrick, who were in the G League at the time.

If Riccardi is elevated, it would be another 30-something in the front office. He, Peterson and Birdsong are all in their early 30’s. Scotto adds that the Memphis Grizzlies made a play for the Texas native in recent weeks.

The Memphis Grizzlies expressed interest in Long Island Nets assistant general manager Matt Riccardi for a front office position, league sources told The Athletic. Nets general manager Sean Marks granted the Grizzlies permission to speak with Riccardi, but talks ended this week with Riccardi remaining with Brooklyn.

In discussing who among the Nets staff beyond Riccardi might get a promotion, Scotto points out that two members of Will Weaver’s staff with Long Island could be competing for the G League head job, Shaun Fein, who was the liaison between Brooklyn and Long Island on the development of two-ways and Dzanan Musa, as well as assistant Long Island coach Ryan Forehan-Kelly, who was Weaver’s No. 2.

As for Fleming’s replacement, rumors have put Jeff Hornacek in the lead for that job, but the former Knicks and Suns head coach has also been suggested for an assistant job with the Lakers where he would join two other former head coaches, Jason Kidd and Lionel Hollins who served back-to-back as Nets head coach under Billy King. Hornacek wouldn’t quite be an in-house addition, but he has spent a lot of time working with Nets players in advisory role this season ... while still being paid by the Knicks.

• Which Nets in-house staff members could move up? - Michael Scotto - The Athletic New York