The Portland Trail Blazers rounded out their front office staff on Thursday by hiring Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry as assistant general managers.
Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
"I've had the opportunity to work closely with both Bill and Steve and have always been impressed by their tremendous basketball acumen, work ethic and character,"
said Portland GM Rich Cho. "I am thrilled to have them join me, Chad (Buchanan) and Mike (Born) as part of our front office staff."
The 44-year-old Branch joins the Trail Blazers from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he worked with Cho for the past three seasons as the organization's director of pro player personnel.
Branch brings 23 years of NBA experience to Portland. From 1997-2007 he was employed by the Denver Nuggets, where he served in several capacities. Prior to that he worked in the Charlotte Hornets' basketball operations staff from 1987-97.
"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work for a team with such a rich tradition, great fan base and talented staff,"
said Branch. "I look forward to doing everything I can to contribute and help the Trail Blazers move forward and build upon some great pieces."
Rosenberry, 55, broke into the NBA as a scout with Seattle, where he spent six seasons before moving on to Charlotte to take a similar position from 1991-94. He then returned to the Seattle organization in 1994 and lasted 13 years, recently in the role of director of scouting.
Rosenberry also had a stop in Milwaukee before spending 2008-10 with Atlanta, where he was director of pro personnel and college scouting.
"I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with Rich, and while I have tremendous respect for him as a basketball person, he's been a great friend throughout the years,"
said Rosenberry. "It's exciting to be a part of an organization with a storied history and winning tradition such as Portland's."
Cho was named the Trail Blazers GM on July 19, replacing Kevin Pritchard, who was fired in late June.
