T-Wolves hire Raptors Finch as HC following Saunders dismissal - theScore

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The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Toronto Raptors assistant Chris Finch as their new head coach, the team announced Monday, less than 24 hours after dismissing Ryan Saunders from the role.

Finch and president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas previously worked together with the Houston Rockets. Finch served as the head coach of the Rockets G League affiliate when Rosas was an executive in Houston.

"I look forward to working hand and hand with Gersson to build and lead a team that Timberwolves fans will be proud of," Finch said. "We have excellent pieces in place and I can’t wait to get to work."

Finch was midway through his first season on Nick Nurse s staff. The former D-League Coach of the Year also had stints as an assistant with the Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and New Orleans Pelicans.

Minnesota didn t show much progress under Saunders guidance, going 43-93 in parts of three seasons. The Timberwolves have lost eight of their past nine games and own the NBA s worst record at 7-24.

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

Saunders, son of the late Timberwolves president and head coach Flip Saunders, took over for Tom Thibodeau midway through the 2018-19 campaign. He was the league s youngest head coach at the time of his hiring but had a decade s worth of experience as an assistant.