The Cavaliers have received permission to interview another candidate for their head coaching vacancy, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that the Nuggets will allow Cleveland to meet with assistant Wes Unseld Jr.
Unseld’s inclusion in the Cavs’ head coaching search doesn’t come as a surprise. Shortly after word broke last month that Larry Drew wouldn’t return to the team’s sidelines next season, Wojnarowski identified Unseld as a potential target for Cleveland.
A veteran NBA assistant – and the son of Hall-of-Famer Wes Unseld – the younger Unseld served on coaching staffs in Washington, Golden State, and Orlando before arriving in Denver. He has been Michael Malone‘s lead assistant on the Nuggets’ bench since 2016.
The Cavaliers appears to be casting a wide net as they seek Drew’s replacement. Having already met with Juwan Howard, Jamahl Mosley, and J.B. Bickerstaff, the club has a Friday meeting lined up with Alex Jensen and has also received permission to speak to Unseld, David Vanterpool, and Nate Tibbetts.
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Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez and Bucks assistant Darvin Ham have also been mentioned as possible candidates for the Cleveland job. Both of those teams remain alive in the playoffs, but now that they’ve requested permission to meet with Unseld, the Cavs could do the same with Fernandez and Ham.