The New York Knicks have had a busy offseason ever since they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.
Just days after the loss, the organisation relieved Tom Thibodeau of head coaching responsibilities.
Stephen A. Smith was not happy with the decision and demanded team president Leon Rose to make a public statement on what led to the decision.
Since the news of his firing, multiple names have been linked with the New York Knicks job, but no front runners have come out yet.
However, NBA Insider Brian Windhorst has stated why the Knicks have a slight advantage in bringing Minnesota Timberwolves‘ coach Chris Finch to the Big Apple.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesBrian Windhorst on Chris Finch’s Knicks link
Finch has been a coach of the Timberwolves for four years now and under his leadership the franchise has been able to make multiple Western Conference Finals.
He has been a great mentor to a young Anthony Edwards and is also respected by everyone in the organisation.
However, Windhorst has stated an interesting connection between Finch and a front office member of the New York Knicks.
“Do keep in mind that, Chris Finch was hired in Minnesota at the middle of the season by Gersson Rosas, who is Leon Rose’s one of his top lieutenants,” said Windhorst when talking about Knicks’ chances of hiring Finch.
Gersson Rosas was the president of basketball operations in Minnesota when Finch was hired to be the coach of the team.
He has since moved to the Knicks and is Senior Vice President of basketball operations.
A few other names like Jason Kidd and Ime Udoka are also involved in the Knicks coaching job, but Finch’s past relation with Rosas could make him the most likely of candidates although it remains a difficult hire due to his current contract with the Timberwolves.
Chris Finch has all it takes to win in Minnesota
Finch has been pivotal in the Timberwolves’ resurgence as one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
They have made it to the playoffs four seasons in a row and this includes multiple Conference Finals appearances.
Minnesota is linked with a move for Kevin Durant in the offseason and that could help them get over the hump.
With Edwards already on the roster and a solid supporting cast, they are not far off from having a championship caliber roster.
.@IanBegley reports that in addition to Jason Kidd, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka are two coaches under contract that the Knicks have “degrees of interest” in pic.twitter.com/NxFJ3dqEiN
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Moving to the Knicks would not elevate his chances of winning a championship as both New York and Minnesota are on similar levels in terms of roster strength.
While the Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns, a player Finch has coached in the past, the Timberwolves’ depth and ability to add more firepower could force the 55-year-old to stay with the team.