Category: Minnesota T-Wolves Blog

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Timberwolves hire former Raptors assistant Chris Finch as new head coach

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas today announced he has named Chris Finch as the Timberwolves Head Coach.

“I am excited to announce Chris Finch as our next head coach,” said Rosas. “Chris brings a wealth of basketball experience from his time in the NBA, G League and Internationally. He is one of the most creative basketball minds in the NBA, has success maximizing players, and I am excited to see him bring our team to the next level and beyond.”

“I would like to thank Glen Taylor and Gersson Rosas for this incredible opportunity to be the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said Finch. “I look forward to working hand and hand with Gersson to build and lead a team that Timberwolves fans will be proud of. We have excellent pieces in place and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Known as one of the best offensive coaching minds in the NBA, Finch has coached the likes of Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, James Harden, Nikola Jokić, Zion Williamson and Kyle Lowry.

Finch, 51, has over 24 years of NBA and G League experience, serving most recently as an assistant coach under Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors this season. Prior to that, he made coaching stops with the New Orleans Pelicans as associate head coach from 2017-20, the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach from 2016-17 and the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach from 2011-16. Finch was named the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rocket’s G League affiliate in 2009. He led the Vipers to back-to-back G League Finals appearances, compiling a 67-33 (.670) record in his two seasons. After leading Rio Grande Valley to the 2010 G League Championship, Finch received the Dennis Johnson Trophy as the league’s best head coach.

The Reading, Pennsylvania native played overseas in the British Basketball League (BBL) for the Sheffield Sharks from 1993-97 before coaching the same team from 1997-2003. Finch was named the BBL Coach of the Year in 1998-99. He continued to coach overseas for 12 years including in Germany and Belgium.

Finch also served as the head coach of Great Britain’s National Team from 2006-13, where he led the national team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He also led them to a European Championship berth in 2009 and 2011, the team’s first appearances since 1981.

A Franklin & Marshall College graduate in 1992, Finch was as a two-time All-American, and was inducted into the F&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He started the final 115 games of his collegiate career and compiled a 102-13 record (.887), which stood as the most career wins as a starter in NCAA Division III history.

Timberwolves fire head coach Ryan Saunders

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas tonight announced the team has relieved Ryan Saunders of his duties as Head Coach, effective immediately.

“We would like to thank Ryan for his time and commitment to the Timberwolves organization and wish him the best in the future,” said Rosas. “These are difficult decisions to make, however this change is in the best interest of the organization’s short and long-term goals.”

Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell injured, out 4-6 weeks

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury updates on guards D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Culver:

Russell, who has missed the last three games due to left leg soreness, will undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to remove a loose body from the left knee. Russell will remain out between 4-6 weeks and further updates to his progress will be issued when available.

In 20 games (19 starts) this season, Russell is averaging 19.3 points on 42.6% shooting and 5.1 assists.

In the third quarter of the Monday, Jan. 25 game at Golden State, Culver sustained a left ankle sprain. As part of his ongoing rehab and reconditioning, Culver has been upgraded to on-court activity this week. He is expected to be reevaluated next week with potential to return to play late next week. Updates on his progress will be issued when available.

In 16 games (7 starts) this season, Culver is averaging 8.1 points on 45.9% shooting and 5.0 rebounds.

Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves game scheduled for January 15, 2021 is postponed

The NBA game scheduled for tonight between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center has been postponed in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.

Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Timberwolves, the team does not have the league-required eight available players to proceed with tonight’s game against the Grizzlies.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their fourth-year option on Josh Okogie and the third-year option on Jarrett Culver.

Okogie, 22, has averaged 8.1 points, on 40.6% shooting and 3.6 rebounds per contest in 139 games (83 starts) for the Timberwolves. He was named to Team World at the Rising Stars Game for the second-straight year as part of the 2020 All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Okogie was drafted by the Wolves in the first round (20th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Culver, 21, posted averages of 9.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per contest in 63 games (35 starts) last season, his first in the NBA. The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-7 guard from the Phoenix Suns on July 6, 2019.

Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns out with wrist injury

During the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns sustained an injury to his left wrist.

He was evaluated by a hand specialist today in Los Angeles, which revealed a left perilunate subluxation (dislocation).

Towns will be listed as out for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and will be further evaluated weekly as he undergoes treatment to return to play.

He will not require surgery.

In his first two games of the season, Towns is averaging 22.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per games.

Timberwolves waive Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyler Cook, Zylan Cheatham and Charlie Brown Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard Charlie Brown Jr. and forwards Zylan Cheatham, Tyler Cook and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Brown Jr., 6-6, totaled 20 points and 4 rebounds last season in 10 games with Atlanta. He was originally signed by the Hawks on July 1, 2019. The 23-year-old played in 29 games in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks where he averaged 17.1 points on 42.2% shooting and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Cheatham, 6-5, played in four games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old played in 34 games (30 starts) in the G League for the Erie Bayhawks where he averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Cook, 6-8, played in one game during the preseason for the Timberwolves recording two points, three rebounds and two assists. The 23-year-old totaled 23 points and 14 rebounds last season in 13 games with Cleveland and Denver. He was originally signed by the Timberwolves on Dec. 2, 2019.

Hollis-Jefferson, 6-6, played in three preseason games with the Timberwolves, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. During the 2019-20 season, he averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 60 games with the Toronto Raptors. The five-year veteran has played in 294 career games (153 starts) with Toronto and Brooklyn, holding career averages of 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Timberwolves sign Zylan Cheatham, waive Ade Murkey

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Zylan Cheatham.

In a related move, Rosas also announced the team has waived guard Ade Murkey.

Cheatham, 6-5, played in four games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old played in 34 games (30 starts) in the G League for the Erie Bayhawks where he averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Cheatham played two seasons at San Diego State University, averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 69 games (48 starts) before transferring to his hometown college, Arizona State. The Phoenix native played one season with the Sun Devils, averaging 12.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34 games (all starts).

Timberwolves sign Jordan McLaughlin to two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Jordan McLaughlin to a two-way contract.

McLaughlin, 24, appeared in 30 games (two starts) with the Timberwolves last season, averaging 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In his first NBA start on Feb. 8 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, he recorded his first-career double-double notching career highs of 24 points and 11 assists. On Feb. 23 at Denver, he recorded 15 points and 10 assists, becoming the sixth Timberwolves rookie, and first since Zach LaVine in 2015, to have multiple point/assist double-doubles in their rookie season.

While on assignment with the Iowa Wolves, he averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 23 games with the Timberwolves G-League affiliate.

The Pasadena (CA) native played four seasons at the University of Southern California averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 58 assists and 1.7 steals in 128 games.