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Denver Nuggets to add JJ Barea, Rodney Billups to coaching staff

Mar 11, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) dribbles as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) defends during the second quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

We take a brief respite from the chaos surrounding the player movement of free agency to bring you some coaching news.

According to league insiders, the Denver Nuggets are making two new coaching hires, JJ Barea and Rodney Billups.

In addition, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype is reporting that the Nuggets have also come to terms with Rodney Billups, younger brother of Chauncey Billups.

Both Barea and Billups represent a slight shift from the Nuggets previous coaching staff hired by former head coach Michael Malone. Gone are assistants Ryan Saunders, Charles Klask, and Popeye Jones, as well as player development coach Stephen Graham. The Nuggets look to have retained some of their assistant coaches from last year as previously reported, so how Barea and Billups fit in will be interesting.

Barea and Billups bring different voices to the fold, and perhaps slightly different perspectives. Both will be useful in the coming year, and I’m curious as to how Adelman will assign responsibilities for the upcoming season. With Ryan Saunders gone, one of the leading voices in Denver’s defensive schemes, the Nuggets may still have to replace him in some way. The Nuggets were previously reported as having interest in Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley, who might still factor into that defensive conversation.

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