Chris Finch enters the upcoming season with his standing tied directly to how well the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new-look roster comes together.
Minnesota has reshaped the team around him, adding LaMelo Ball, the high-end point guard it has been missing, and signing Jonathan Kuminga to cover the power forward spot. That kind of offseason overhaul raises the stakes for Finch, even though he remains the most successful coach in franchise history. In a league where coaches often take the blame when things go wrong, he would be the most obvious change if the Timberwolves stumble after already making major roster moves.
The ceiling, though, is real. The Wolves have enough talent to chase a championship, and Finch could be a major reason why.
If Minnesota pushes into the top two in the West and jumps either the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder, Finch would have a strong case for Coach of the Year. That’s the kind of season-defining swing he’s facing: title contender on one end, expendable on the other.
A lot of it comes down to what happens with the offense. Finch has talked about taking a more active hand there, but the exact shape of that approach is still the big question.
He was once viewed as an offensive expert, yet his systems have often been short on creativity and structure. That becomes a real issue with Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kuminga, Rudy Gobert, Ayo Dosunmu, and Terrence Shannon Jr. all needing touches.
Minnesota has plenty of talent, but it also has plenty of players who want the ball.
The challenge is obvious: the Timberwolves need more structure, but not so much that it squeezes out the individuality that makes those players dangerous. If Finch can’t find that balance, the whole thing could get clunky fast. And with so many mouths to feed, there’s a version of this season where the offense never really clicks.
Clutch-time performance is another pressure point. Minnesota has been stuck in that area for a while, never ranking above average in clutch net rating during the Edwards era.
If that continues, Finch won’t be able to hide behind the idea of a flawed roster. The blame would land on him.
Player development matters here too. The bench beyond Ayo is made up of intriguing but unproven pieces, and Finch has long been questioned for not trusting young players enough.
This roster may force his hand with Joan Beringer and Shannon, who could be asked to play heavy minutes. If those guys don’t produce, Minnesota’s upside takes a hit, and Finch’s ability to grow young talent gets put under the microscope.
Losing lead assistant Micah Nori only adds another layer of difficulty. Even winning a playoff series might not be enough to guarantee Finch’s safety. The Wolves are operating with an all-in mentality, and that means the expectations are not subtle.
Still, there’s a path where Finch comes out of this looking like a star. His offensive reputation didn’t come from nowhere, and maybe the issue has been the rosters around him rather than his own ideas.
Creative, detailed offense usually needs a true floor general, and Mike Conley only filled that role to a point because of his limits as a shot creator. Ball gives Finch something different: the most gifted point guard he has coached, and maybe the key to unlocking more of what he wants to do schematically.
If Ball grows into a more mature, winning player, Finch will deserve plenty of credit. If he can also fold Kuminga into the offense and get him comfortable in a reduced role, that would make Finch look sharp in a hurry. He has a strong track record of connecting with players, so that kind of outcome is hardly out of the question.
Minnesota still has a tough road if it wants to catch the Spurs and Thunder, but the upside is there. Finch has already shown in the playoffs that he can build a strong game plan and get the most out of his roster.
If he can bring that same edge to the regular season and add more scheme creativity, the Timberwolves could finish as a top-two or top-three seed. And if that happens, Finch could push himself into the top tier of NBA coaches.
In Other News...
Timberwolves Season May Ride On Two Role Changes Fans Can't Ignore
The Timberwolves reshuffled roster has created a few clear lanes for opportunity, and two of them could matter a lot once the season settles in. Joan Beringer is expected to move into a bigger reserve role behind Rudy Gobert, giving Minnesota a younger big man more chances to develop while providing the frontcourt with a different look when Gobert sits. It is the sort of change that can quietly shape a teams rotation long before the numbers on the page catch up.
Jaden McDaniels is the other name to watch, especially with the way Minnesotas frontcourt and scoring order have shifted around him. After a strong playoff stretch last spring, he looks positioned for a larger offensive load, which would ask him to do more than defend and finish chances as they come. For a team trying to stay balanced while integrating new pieces, the way McDaniels handles that bump could say plenty about how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
Wolves Are Giving Jules Bernard Another Chance To Force The Issue
The Timberwolves are taking another look at Jules Bernard, giving the free agent guard a non-guaranteed training camp contract as they continue sorting out the edges of the roster. Bernard has already logged NBA time with Washington and previously spent a brief stretch on a two-way deal with Minnesota, though he never got into a game for the Wolves.
The renewed opportunity matters because camp deals can still become something more if a player forces the issue in the right setting. Minnesota is not alone in making those kinds of moves, either, with point guard David Stockton landing a similar arrangement with Phoenix and likely heading to the Suns' G League affiliate after camp, but Bernard now gets one more chance to make his case in front of a team that has already seen enough to bring him back. [Read more 🡒]
Timberwolves Fans Just Got A New Way To Watch All Season
Timberwolves fans looking for a simpler way to follow the team now have a new streaming option as Minnesota has teamed up with DAZN for live and on-demand access to games not picked up for exclusive national broadcasts. The deal also covers preseason action and adds more Timberwolves content through the service, giving local viewers another route to keep up with the club across the long season.
For fans in the Minnesota broadcast market, the setup includes several subscription choices and a free trial through the app, making it easier to sample the service before committing. It is the kind of distribution move that can matter quickly for a fan base that wants consistent access, especially when game nights no longer depend on the same old TV setup. [Read more 🡒]