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Spurs assistant coaches Ime Udoka and Ettore Messina have received permission to interview with the Cleveland Cavaliers for their vacant head coaching position, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.
The Cavaliers have secured permission to interview Ettore Messina and Ime Udoka -- two of Gregg Popovich's top aides in San Antonio -- for the Cleveland coaching vacancy, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 4, 2019
Larry Drew was the Cavs head coach for the 2018-19 season following the firing of Ty Lue in October. He led them to a 19-57 record this season before being let go himself. Udoka, who played for the Spurs from 2007-2009, has been an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich since 2012. Messina joined the Spurs in 2014 following an illustrious career coaching overseas.
In other coaching news, former Spurs player and VP of Basketball Operations Monty Williams was just hired as the Phoenix Suns head coach, replacing Igor Kokoskov. He signed a 5-year deal, which is notable since this is reportedly the first time their notoriously ornery owner Robert Sarver has committed more than 3 years to a coach. Hopefully Williams can break their current streak of three coaches in three seasons.