For every NBA team, there is a bit of suspense whenever a new team executive is hired on. In many circumstances, a new NBA President will ultimately want ‘his guy’ on the basketball court, coaching the team in a way that most closely aligns with the new executive.
So if you have wondered about the future of the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, you had logical reasons to do so. After the news was made public about the hiring of new Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly, it only made sense to consider what that change may mean for the coaching staff.
But we had pointed out that Connelly and Coach Finch have a positive history, and that had likely played out in his eventual decision to jump ship from the Denver Nuggets and come aboard the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What we did not share was the fact that Coach Finch has actually lobbied for the ownership to hire Tim Connelly.
Chris Finch on what he told the Timberwolves ownership group about Tim Connelly (from his experience with him in Denver): “As soon as you meet him, you’re gonna like him, and you’re gonna want him.”
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 31, 2022
This serves to reinforce reports that suggested Tim Connelly was very popular with his past coaches. Connelly polls coaches and staff in the quest to make the right executive decision, and many coaches appreciate the opportunity to offer input.
Of course, best fits to coaches may not be best fits to NBA Salary Cap, nor will the interest of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a player automatically mean interest from that player in joining the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But if you, like me, were hopeful that the changes to the team’s coaching staff would be minimal, then you will likely view this as good news for the Timberwolves and for the future of the franchise.