Nuggets assistant coach set to interview for another head coaching position

The only current head coaching vacancies in the NBA are in Cleveland and Los Angeles. The Lakers job hunt has been well documented with a number of potential candidates emerging. Ultimately, it sounds like the team is leaning toward hiring former player and current ESPN analyst JJ Redick.

Marc Stein reported that there were already rumors going around about Redick building a staff of assistants and that he’s likely to be announced after calling the NBA Finals. If that proves to be true, then there is only one head coaching position that truly remains available and that’s for the Cavaliers.

Barring an unexpected situation arising this offseason, the Cavs’ hire will likely end this window of the coaching carousel. If teams were going to fire their coach they almost certainly would have done so by now. The only teams left playing are the Celtics and Mavericks and both teams are enamored with their young coaches, Joe Mazzulla and Jason Kidd respectively.

Nuggets Assistant, David Adelman back in the news

David Adelman, the lead assistant for Michael Malone and the Nuggets, has seen his name connected to multiple head coaching gigs this summer. Adelman is the son of NBA coaching legend Rick Adelman, and he’s been an assistant for the Nuggets since 2017.

He has proven himself in the league and has earned a shot at a head coaching position and it seems like teams around the NBA have started to take notice. His name was connected to the Hornets, but they ultimately hired Charles Lee. He was also interviewed for the Lakers job, but those talks seem to have fizzled.

Cavaliers interviewing Adelman

But on Tuesday, it was reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic, that the Cavaliers have received permission to interview Adelman for their opening. It was previously reported that Kenny Atkinson and James Borrego were the favorites to land the job, but it seems they at least want to hear what Adelman has to say.

Atkinson and Borrego have both had head coaching opportunities in the past which may appeal to a team in win-now mode like the Cavs. But they also may want to go with someone younger who may be ready to break through and build his own thing in the model of the Nuggets. It’s great and worthy for Adelman, but the Nuggets hope they can retain their key assistant coach.