The Cleveland Cavaliers moved closer Saturday to completing a first round of candidate interviews for the franchise's head-coaching job, league sources told ESPN.
Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman and members of his front office met separately with several assistant coaches in Denver on the eve of Game 7 between the Nuggets and Trail Blazers, including Denver assistants Jordi Fernandez and Wes Unseld Jr. and Portland assistant David Vanterpool, league sources said.
The Cavaliers also interviewed Orlando Magic assistant Steve Hetzel in Denver on Saturday, sources said.
The Cavaliers had received permission to interview another Trail Blazers assistant, Nate Tibbetts, but scheduling conflicts will push that meeting until after the Blazers-Nuggets Western Conference semifinals series ends, sources said.
The Cavaliers interviewed San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina in the past several days.
The team parted ways last month with Larry Drew, who went 19-57 as its head coach after replacing Tyronn Lue.