The Minnesota Timberwolves fired Ryan Saunders on Sunday, hours after the team with the worst record of the season lost its eighth game in the NBA.
The club is finalizing plans to introduce Toronto assistant coach Chris Finch as the new coach on Monday, according to someone who knows the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Finch’s employment had not been officially completed.
ESPN reported that Saunders fired first, and The Athletic first reported Finch’s arrival.
Saunders, 34, the son of Minnesota veteran coach Flip Saunders, was with the Timberwolves for three seasons, finishing 43-94. Minnesota has the worst record this season at 7-24 and is now 7 1/2 games behind last place to reach the Western Conference post-season.
“We would like to thank Ryan for his time and commitment to the Timberwolves and wish him all the best in the future,” said basketball operations team chairman Gersson Rosas. “These are difficult decisions to make, although this change is in the best interest of the organization’s short- and medium-term goals.”
It was a very disappointing season for the Timberwolves, who started 2-0 and haven’t had much to celebrate since. Karl-Anthony Towns, the best player on the team, dislocated his left wrist in the second game of the season and missed six games, returned and came out 13th after testing positive for COVID-19.
D’Angelo Russell, the other key player on the team, underwent surgery on his left knee last week and could be out until April.
It didn’t look like the Timberwolves had stopped playing for Saunders. On Sunday, they followed up with 21 points in the third quarter for the New York Knicks, but took the lead in the closing minutes before losing 103-99.
Finch, in turn, has a past with Rosas, after they both worked with the Houston Rockets. He coached the team’s affiliate in what is now called the G League, winning a championship with Rio Grande Valley before becoming an assistant to the Rockets. He then served as an assistant to the Denver Nugges, New Orleans Pelicans and was in his first season with the Raptors.