Weird: Wolves Assistant Hired as Blazers (Interim) Head Coach
There was always going to be a significant amount of moving pieces for the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason. After two consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals, they fell short of that mark last year — ousted instead by the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.
On Monday night, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly began his offseason roster reconstruction project by shipping Julius Randle to Brooklyn in a salary dump.
Not long after, Shams broke the news that Ayo Dosunmu was getting a new five-year contract. More moves are coming, and we haven’t even discussed the NBA Draft kicking off Tuesday night.
Micah Nori hired by Portland Trail Blazers
That’s for another article, however. Because today’s already busy NBA day just got newsier when — after years of interviews and runner-up finishes — Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori was hired to be the next head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Just in: The Portland Trail Blazers are hiring Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Nori — widely regarded as one of the league's top assistants — has been in the NBA coaching ranks since 2009 and now takes over… pic.twitter.com/j5PDc5KlFF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
Tim Connelly made it extremely clear right away at the start of the offseason that Wolves head coach Chris Finch would be back next year. The question for the past few months has been that of Micah Nori.
Last season, the Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off their schedule with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Hours later, former Wolves guard turned Blazers coach was arrested as part of a gambling scandal.
How we got here and what’s next for Timberwolves
Tiago Splitter led the team the rest of the way, but after Portland dragged their feet on hiring him full-time, the Bulls swooped in and did it first. That allowed for Nori to become the Blazers’ top candidate.
Nori first landed an assistant job in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors back in 2009. The Timberwolves were the fifth franchise he held that title for. In recent seasons, Nori’s interviewed for at least half a dozen head coaching jobs, before his dream finally became reality.
Micah Nori will be Portland’s 17th-ever head coach, going back 56 years to 1970. However, it is worth noting that the new head coach’s contract is only a one-year deal, if you consider the team options in years two and three. That’s weird…
"Never" 2x
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) June 23, 2026
"Um… never"
"WTF. That's insane."
"That's wild. Haven't heard of that."
*eyes emoji*
Related: MN Timberwolves Money Situation in Flux After Ayo Dosunmu Contract
Last season Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch operated with seven assistant coaches. It remains to be seen how Finch will backfill his role. Among the remaining assistants, Pablo Prigioni is probably the most household name, and a very respected basketball mind.
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