Chris Finch says the quiet part out loud about Timberwolves' fatal flaw

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. That is the first time they have done so this season, and something they hadn't done since November 21-27 of 2024.

A problem during the current skid (and really all season) is the lack of bench production outside of Naz Reid. It was something that Chris Finch brought up postgame after Thursday's loss to the Chicago Bulls.

As mentioned, finding that second reliable reserve that can consistently put up points for the Timberwolves has been a problem for Finch all season. Andrew Dukowitz, Timberwolves' credentialed reporter, shared postseason comments from the head coach, including this one about the bench:

“Yeah, I mean we’re in desperate need for a shot in the arm from there, and you know the bench had great looks tonight too," Finch said.

During the four-game skid, the Timberwolves are averaging a lowly 23.3 points from the bench. That's 93 total points, and 58 of those came from Reid. What makes that even more remarkable, and even more telling about the lack of punch outside of Reid from the bench, is that Naz started the second of those four contests due to Rudy Gobert being out.

One of least productive benches in the league

During the four-game skid, the Timberwolves are averaging a lowly 23.3 points from the bench. That's 93 total points, and 58 of those came from Reid. What makes that even more remarkable, and even more telling about the lack of punch outside of Reid from the bench, is that Naz started the second of those four contests due to Rudy Gobert being out.

With the February 5 trade deadline now less than two weeks away, perhaps Finch is trying to hint to the front office that a move is needed to bolster the bench. As a matter of fact, they have been already been linked to three players from the Bulls team they just played: Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Tre Jones.

For all the talk about getting a point guard, simply finding some quality bench scoring is clearly the Wolves' biggest need.

Overall, this season, Minnesota ranks 22nd out of the 30 teams in averaging 33.0 points per game off the bench. Their 43.8% field goal accuracy from the reserves places them just 26th. Any of those aforementioned names would improve production from the bench, as would some other names that have been thrown out as potential candidates for the Timberwolves to acquire.

Fans knew that losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker would hurt, but they thought sophomore leaps from Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham would help ease their pain. Neither of those jumps has come, and Minnesota's bench as a whole continues to flounder.