CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Memphis Grizzlies have been granted permission to interview Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Nate Tibbetts for their vacant head coach position, league sources informed cleveland.com.

Tibbetts, 38, is expected to interview with Memphis early next week.

Tibbetts is a well-respected and innovative young coach who was once an assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons beginning in 2011. Prior to joining the Cavaliers, he was the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

In his first season with the club, he led them to the D-League Finals during the 2009-10 campaign.

Players such as Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters hold him in high regard.

The Trail Blazers are coming off a remarkable 44-38 regular season. The Golden State Warriors eliminated Portland in the second round in five tough games. Tibbetts is considered to be one of the top candidates on the market.