Raptors Rumors: Nuggets' David Adelman Interviewing for HC Job Post-Nick Nurse Firing

The Toronto Raptors plan to interview Denver Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman as part of their coaching search, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Adelman joined Denver's staff ahead of the 2017-18 season and has been in the league since 2011. The 41-year-old is the son of legendary NBA head coach Rick Adelman.

Adelman has gotten an early taste of what it's like to be an NBA head coach when Michael Malone was sidelined in December 2021 and again this January because of the league's health and safety protocols.

Denver won its first three games when he filled in for Malone this year.

During his postgame interview on the floor following a 122-118 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 18, Nikola Jokić said he believes Adelman is destined to coach his own team.

Jokić's talents are undeniable, but his evolution is also a credit to Denver's coaching staff. Adelman explained to The Ringer's Michael Pina how he and his fellow coaches have tried to think outside the box with the big man.

"How can we challenge people that prepare for us?" he said. "Once we started to kind of experiment with him in different ways, with different screeners, we realized we could really open up the box and take chances with him."

Sooner or later, Adelman's work in the Mile High City would be noticed by opposing franchises.

The Raptors fired Nick Nurse in April after they were unable to advance out of the play-in tournament. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Toronto was expected to undertake a search that's "broad in scope and include a robust initial wave of candidates among NBA assistants, ex-NBA head coaches and NCAA and WNBA coaches."

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Charles Lee and Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon were among the initial targets the Raptors requested to interview, per Wojnarowski.

The addition of Adelman shows how the search is continuing to evolve.