Report: Cavs Receive Permission to Interview 2 Portland Trail Blazers Assistant Coaches

By Brady Klopfer
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Updated: April 23, 2019

In an effort to fill their vacant head coaching position, the Cleveland Cavaliers will meet with two Portland Trail Blazers assistant coaches.

The Cavs have been granted permission to interview both Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool.

Cleveland has received permission to interview Portland assistants Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool for franchise's head coaching job, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 23, 2019

Because Tibbetts and Vanterpool are both currently under contract, Cleveland needed permission from Portland’s front office first. Not surprisingly, that permission was granted.

The Blazers are currently in the midst of a playoff run and hold a 3-1 series lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cleveland will need to schedule the interviews around Portland’s postseason games.

Tibbetts has a connection with the Cavs. He was an assistant coach in Cleveland from 2011 until 2013. He has spent the six seasons since as an assistant coach for the Blazers.

Vanterpool has been a Blazers assistant coach for seven seasons. His resume also includes being the director of pro personnel for the Thunder and an assistant coach for the Canadian men’s national team.

The Cavs will do a thorough coaching search as they look for their next leader. Cleveland hasn’t had a coach last more than three seasons since Mike Brown led the team from 2005 until 2010, so the franchise is certainly looking for stability.

Cleveland began the year with Tyronn Lue as head coach, but he was fired just six games into the season. Larry Drew coached the rest of the way, but he and the organization parted ways at the end of the season.