T-Wolves HC Rumors: Juwan Howard, David Vanterpool, Chris Finch to Interview

Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard, Portland Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool and New Orleans Pelicans assistant Chris Finch are expected to interview for the Minnesota Timberwolves' head coaching vacancy this week.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the planned meetings with Howard and Vanterpool. Marc Stein of the New York Times shared word of Finch's scheduled interview, noting he and Minnesota president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas worked together with the Houston Rockets.

Minnesota interim coach Ryan Saunders will remain a "prominent candidate," per Wojnarowski.

Howard spent 19 seasons in the NBA as a player, suiting up for eight organizations. Not only was he selected to the All-Star team in 1996, but he also won a pair of rings (2012, 2013) while playing with LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

He has been a member of Erik Spoelstra's coaching staff in Miami since his 2013 retirement. He has also taken on the role of the coach for the Heat in the summer league and for Team Africa in the 2018 NBA Africa Game.

While the 46-year-old does not have any prior NBA head coaching experience, he has received plenty of interest this offseason. According to Wojnarowski, Howard had also been a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers jobs.

Vanterpool, meanwhile, has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach in Portland. He previously worked as an assistant for CSKA Moscow from 2007 to 2012. The 46-year-old was tied for the third-most votes for best assistant coach in NBA.com's 2017-18 GM poll and received votes last year.

Like Howard, Vanterpool does not have any NBA head coaching experience. He was, however, a candidate in Phoenix this offseason and has interviewed with the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic in the past.

Saunders, the son of the late Flip Saunders, went 17-25 in 42 games for the Timberwolves after he took over for Tom Thibodeau in January.