Nets Assistant GM Linked With a Future Charlotte Front Office Position

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported the news

Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports recently published his bi-annual article identifying the NBA's next wave of front-office executives. Within the article Fischer linked Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Jeff Peterson with the Charlotte Hornets.

Brooklyn assistant general manager Jeff Peterson has emerged as one of the most respected young executives in the NBA. Peterson is hailed for his authenticity, particularly in his ability to communicate up and down the organizational chart. In 2020, Peterson interviewed for the Pistons’ general manager opening. And with a new ownership structure in Charlotte, should the Hornets ultimately move on from Mitch Kupchak after the final year of his contract, Peterson has become widely linked by league personnel as a possible next lead executive in Charlotte. 

Peterson came up through the Atlanta Hawk's front office, holding positions as a basketball operations coordinator, scout and assistant GM between 2014-2019. Peterson's Atlanta roots are likely the source of the link to Charlotte's new ownership group, with Richard Schnall being a former minority owner in Atlanta. New co-owner Gabe Plotkin could also have links with Peterson with being based in New York, close to the Brooklyn Nets organisation. 

Jeff Peterson's role in Brooklyn includes amateur scouting and acting as a “sounding board” for GM Sean Marks. Mike Vorkunov profiled the 33-year-old for The Athletic’s inaugural “40 Under 40”. In talking to Vorkunov about his No. 2, Marks extolled Peterson’s skills and personality.

“There are people who can have honest conversations, peer-to-peer — I could have a conversation with the GM, players can talk to players, coaches talk to coaches. Jeff is a rare breed that can talk across platforms,” Marks said. “So he can have a very honest conversation with a player. He’s had that multiple times. Get the message across, he’s not afraid.

“He’ll have the same conversations with coaches. He’ll have the same conversation with the front office. He’ll have the same conversation with our ownership group. So when you’re able to like be true to who you are across all of that and not be afraid. That’s a talent.”

Facebook - All Hornets

Twitter - @All_Hornets and James Plowright