More changes are coming for the 2025-26 Boston Celtics — this time in the front office.
The Celtics are hiring Drew Nicholas as their executive director of player personnel, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Monday.
Nicholas spent the 2024-25 season as a scout for the Brooklyn Nets and previously served as the Denver Nuggets’ director of scouting from 2022 to 2024, earning an NBA championship with the club in 2023. He spent the 2021-22 season with the Celtics as a college and pro scout and previously held scouting roles with the Philadelphia 76ers (2019 to 2021) and Minnesota Timberwolves (2016 to 2019).
Nicholas never played in the NBA but enjoyed a successful playing career overseas, leading the EuroLeague in scoring in 2006 and winning a pair of EuroLeague titles with the Greek club Panathinaikos in 2009 and 2011. Nicholas also won an NCAA title with Maryland in 2002.
The Celtics’ reported hire of Nicholas comes after the offseason departures of assistant general manager Austin Ainge — who joined his father Danny Ainge on the Utah Jazz earlier this summer — and director of scouting Remy Cofield.
While Nicholas’ exact responsibilities are unclear, it would make sense that he’d take over Cofield’s role as the leader of Boston’s scouting department. And given his familiarity with the organization from the 2021-2022 season, he should be able to integrate seamlessly with president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and the front office.
Boston already has made several major roster moves this offseason, parting ways with Jrue Holiday (trade), Kristaps Porzingis (trade), Luke Kornet (free agency) and Al Horford (expected to depart in free agency) while bringing in Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, Luka Garza and Josh Minott.
The Celtics are still just barely over second apron of the luxury tax, however, which means they’ll likely make at least one more move before the season tips in October.
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