Tim Connelly Stands Behind Chris Finch Amid Rumors

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Chris Finch - Minnesota Timberwolves head coach
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ season is over and Tim Connelly is not happy with how it ended, something the team’s president of basketball operations made very clear in his season-ending press conference this week.

Connelly revealed to reporters that “it was brutal” watching the Wolves lose how they did to San Antonio, who “smacked” them just like they “got smacked” by Oklahoma City — the other 2026 Western Conference Finalist — one year ago.

Changes coming for Minnesota Timberwolves

Tim Connelly knows that Minnesota’s rivals aren’t going to “sit still” this offseason, and vowed that neither will he and his front office. Of course, that’s no surprise. We know Tim is itching to make the Wolves more competitive, something he’s made clear for years now, since swinging and missing on Kevin Durant two trade deadlines ago.

“I think the equation changes when you see the two teams playing in the Western Conference right now and how good they are. We got smacked by Oklahoma City last year, we got smacked by San Antonio… We know our competition is not gonna sit still and nor will we.”

Tim Connelly – Exit Interview Press Conference (via Dane Moore)

“If we can’t improve internally, then we don’t have the right people in the building. So I think we have to hold these guys to unbelievably high standards. Look, the roster’s not going to be the same. It’s never the same year-to-year.

I think moving forward, emotional maturity is certainly something we talked about consistently, and we had some moments of it… And then, certainly, basketball IQ and toughness are two attributes we’re going to look for to continue to augment the core group.”

Tim Connelly – Exit Interview Press Conference (via Dane Moore)

Meanwhile, Rumors are already flying, connecting the Timberwolves again to Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’ve also been linked heavily to Kyrie Irving.

The Kyrie + Wolves chatter got loud Wednesday, when NBA Insider Scoop B. Robinson reported that Anthony Edwards is pushing Connelly to chase the 34-year-old 9x All-Star and former NBA Champion.

MN Timberwolves keeping Chris Finch, though.

In other words, the Minnesota Timberwolves could look a lot different when they gather next October at Mayo Clinic Square for the start of training camp. Not at head coach, though.

Throughout his appearance, Tim pointed plenty of fingers at himself and at the team for lack of consistency and motivation throughout the 2025-26 season. However, one person who did not receive any public blame was head coach, Chris Finch.

When asked whether or not Finchy — who just finished his sixth season as MN Timberwolves head coach — is the guy for next year and beyond, Connelly didn’t flinch. While Tim may not have hired Chris Finch, it’s obvious Finchy is his guy now, sink or swim.

“I think Finch is great. I think we have a fantastic coaching staff. Fingers crossed one of these teams wisely finally hires Micah. I’m sick of hanging out with him (laughs).

It’s not an easy job. He was masterful, I think, in the Denver series. We’re not here without Finchy — the playoff success we’ve had. I’m just thankful that he’s a partner and thankful that he’s our head coach.”

Tim Connelly – Exit Interview Press Conference (via Andrew Dukowitz)

Tim’s frustrations with the MN Timberwolves’ inconsistencies aren’t surprising. It is a bit unusual, however, that Connelly is so bullish on Chris Finch. If your team struggles with focus and consistency on a night-in, night-out basis, one of the first places you’d look for change would be at the coach.

Not here, however. And that’s not to say Finchy should be fired. There’s no doubting how highly viewed he is across the basketball world, and Wolves players (especially veterans) love him. Still, seeing Connelly back his head coach so hard tells us he believes their real problems lie elsewhere.

What about those Jason Kidd rumors?

To add more intrigue to the situation, the aforementioned Kyrie Irving + Timberwolves rumors this week came out of the same article by Scoop B. Robinson that floated a possible interest between Minnesota and recently released Dallas Mavericks head coach, Jason Kidd.

According to the longtime NBA insider, there are high-ranking executives in the NBA who are not ruling out Jason Kidd landing in Minnesota, where he could help bring in Giannis.

The two reportedly loved working together in Milwaukee, where the won a title, and landing Kidd could make the Timberwolves a no-brainer landing spot for the Greek Freak.

Imagine a world where Jason Kidd becomes the next head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves—and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo follows him to the Twin Cities.

It sounds like pure fan fiction, but when asked about the possibility, a trusted league fixture shared an eye-opening perspective: “Not out of the question.”

Kidd has long maintained a desire to coach Giannis again, and the Greek Freak still holds a deep respect and desire to be coached by Kidd, tracing back to their time together in Milwaukee.

If Minnesota decides to pivot from their current leadership, backing the truck up for Kidd could be the ultimate recruiting tool to lure Antetokounmpo away from the Bucks.

Scoop B. Robinson

Unless you think Tim Connelly is lying or, in what would be rather shocking news, that the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking for a change at PoBO, it sounds like Kidd will have to find a different team to coach and Wolves fans will get more of Chris Finch, like it or not.

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