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Portland Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts will interview for the Atlanta Hawks’ head-coaching vacancy after the team received permission, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Hawks mutually parted ways with Mike Budenholzer Wednesday and rumors surfaced soon after that both Tibbetts and fellow assistant David Vanterpool would be considered for the opening.
The Atlanta Hawks have received permission to meet with Portland Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts, league sources tell ESPN. Tibbetts will be a serious candidate to replace Mike Budenholzer as Atlanta's coach.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 27, 2018
Tibbetts has been a staple on the Portland sideline since joining the staff in 2013. This isn’t the first time he has been labeled as head coach material, as ESPN marked him as a potential candidate to watch back in 2016. Joining him on that list was Jarron Collins, Nick Nurse, Chris Finch, Stephen Silas, and Sean Sweeney. As of now, none of those assistant coaches have gotten a chance as the lead man.
In other coaching news, Wojnarowski reported that the Memphis Grizzlies will make J.B. Bickerstaff their next head coach. He served as interim head coach after the firing of David Fizdale in November.
Update:
Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool is not among the Hawks’ prospective candidates.
I'm told Blazers assistant David Vanterpool isn't among candidates for Hawks coach.
— Michael Cunningham (@MCunninghamAJC) April 26, 2018