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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has been successful since he was hired in February 2021. With a regular season record of 209-160, he has been integral to the Timberwolves' growth into a perennial Playoff team.
Despite that success, he makes mistakes from time to time, including in his rotations. This has drawn the ire of fans, which he is aware of, but he thinks he has the best perspective to guide the team.
Finch is now the second-most successful head coach in Timberwolves history, only behind franchise icon Flip Saunders. He has proven he deserves to be in the job, but of course, no coach is perfect.
He could make some changes to his rotations, but it is also up to the front office to give him the most optimal roster possible.
Finch Is Aware Of Social Media Criticism
As a head coach, Finch has become open to criticism because his decisions affect the result of games and the Playoff series. While most people are not in tune with his set plays, they see his rotations and how he balances every player's minutes.
Timberwolves fans are vocal on social media about Finch's rotations but leave out the context behind why he is making his choices.
Static rotations tonight? They're down their two best bench players. Of course Finch deserves some blame. My point is, it's not ALL of the blame like so many want to do.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 2, 2025
Since the Timberwolves are in the middle of a week-long break to prepare for the series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Finch is doing his best to help the team amidst criticism.
"Everybody's got a thousand ideas of what to do at this time. I just need to go on to Twitter, and I'm a better coach," Finch said after practice. "Once things get a little rocky, I'll probably do that. It's not just about having all these ideas. It's what can you actually accomplish at a high level?"
Finch And The Timberwolves Have A Lot To Prove In The Playoffs
The Playoffs will be a huge stage for the Timberwolves because they could pull off an upset. They are the heavy underdogs against the Lakers, but people often forget they split the season series at 2-2.
While most people will point out Luka Doncic and LeBron James as the primary threats, they should also admit that Anthony Edwards could be the best player in the series.
Anthony Edwards on playing LeBron James and the Lakers
— Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) April 16, 2025
“It means a lot, to be matched up against him. Probably goes down as the greatest player to ever play basketbal. Trying to put him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one”#bringthenice pic.twitter.com/2NC3p2b5xk
It will be a more equal matchup than most people expect, and that will be due to the chess match between Chris Finch and Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Finch has the experience advantage, which could be the key to winning the series.
Finch has a tough test with the Lakers, and he wants to keep winning games and maximizing the talented players he has in his rotations.
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TODAY'S BEST
Nikola Jokic on the cusp of a streak never achieved in 79-year NBA history
Nikola Jokic on Wednesday became the third player ever to start a season with four consecutive triple-doubles, joining Oscar Robertson (1961-62) and Russell Westbrook (2020-21) in exclusive company. If the Denver Nuggets star can make it five in a row against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, he'll achieve a streak never recorded in the 79-year history of the NBA, per the Associated Press. Nikola Jokic on pace to eclipse the Big O Jokic recorded the 168th triple-double of his career on Wednesday, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the Nuggets' 122-88 blowout victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Serbian star is just 13 shy of tying Robertson for second on the leaderboard and 35 away from equaling Westbrook, the all-time leader. Unless he suffers an injury, Jokic is a lock to surpass "The Big O" this season, considering he amassed a career-high 34 last season. It also doesn't seem far-fetched for Jokic to tie or surpass Westbrook's record of 203 triple-doubles this season. For one, Westbrook, who has assumed a bench role with the Sacramento Kings, won't put up the gaudy numbers he did during his prime with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Furthermore, Jokic's recent career progression suggests a steady increase in the number of triple-doubles year-over-year. Nikola Jokic's rapid-fire triple-doubles Jokic had only 16 triple-doubles when he won his first MVP in 2020-21, a number that rose to 19 when he clinched his second Michael Jordan Trophy the following season. That total increased to 25 when he earned his third MVP in 2023-24, and then to 34 last year, when he became the first center ever to average a triple-double for a season. If the recent trend is any indication, Jokic will likely accumulate at least 40 triple-doubles this season, making him the all-time leader. Another remarkable trend in Jokic's triple-doubles is the rapidity with which he gets them. On Wednesday, he sat out the fourth quarter, marking the 17th time in his career when he reached a triple-double mark while logging less than 30 minutes. According to the NBA, Jokic leads both Robertson and Westbrook for most such games. Jokic similarly had more triple-doubles within three quarters than the entire NBA combined last season. And that was when the Nuggets had questionable depth, leading to the firing of head coach Michael Malone. This season, Denver is significantly better, giving Jokic many more chances to record triple-doubles and sit out the fourth quarter.
Steelers Can Take Advantage Of Reported 'Fire Sale' In AFC And Target Stud Wide Receiver
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that has been reported to be looking to acquire talent ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on November 4th. Pittsburgh has already brought in safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots, and the franchise could be looking to add some more talent, especially on the offensive side of the football. Wide receiver has been a position of discussion for many fans, as Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson being the next options behind DK Metcalf has not felt like a great idea through the first seven games of the year. The Steelers have been rumored to land pretty much any disgruntled wide receiver over the last two seasons. The only big acquisition at the position has been Metcalf, which was a trade that seemingly came out of nowhere in the 2025 offseason. With the deadline approaching, Pittsburgh has some options, including wide receiver Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins. Miami mutually separated with General Manager Chris Grier on Friday, which should mark the start of a fire sale. This was recently pointed out by analyst Matt Miller. The Dolphins fell to 2-7 after losing to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, and that marks the end of Grier's time with the organization, as he started back in 2000 as a scout for the franchise. Miami was trying to turn things around in the 2025 season before officially becoming "sellers," but the seventh loss of the year and the dismissal of a general manager usually means trades are coming. The Dolphins have said they do not want to deal Waddle, but that was prior to Grier and the organization parting ways. That, plus a lost season completely changes things, and Waddle could absolutely get moved for the right price. Miami will now have to hire a new general manager during the 2026 offseason, and the franchise has to be sure it is doing everything possible to set the new executive up for success. That means acquiring some draft capital via trade, while also clearing up some cap space. Moving Waddle would bring in significant draft capital while also getting his contract off of the books. He is currently signed through the 2028 season with a cap hit of over $30 million in each of the last two years on the deal. The franchise should certainly consider getting rid of him to free up some cap space. This franchise is in a rough spot at the moment, and a fire sale could help propel them forward. A true rebuild is coming for Miami, so it is likely time to start setting up for the future. Steelers' Omar Khan Needs To At Least Inquire With The Miami Dolphins Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan needs to at least reach out to Miami as the franchise could be seen as a bit vulnerable with an interim general manager stepping in. Waddle should be at the top of Pittsburgh's wish list, but there are some other players in Miami that might be worth acquiring as well. There is a trio of edge rushers that could be moved, and that might not be a bad idea for Pittsburgh as the team somehow lacks a pass rush. Khan has been great at negotiating ever since stepping into his current role, and it might be beneficial if he can start swapping offers with the stand-in GM in Miami. The two franchises have already done business this year when they swapped some late-round picks, along with Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Logical trade targets if the Vikings decide to buy before the trade deadline
While a loss Sunday in Detroit could turn Minnesota into a seller before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, a win would get them to 4-4 and perhaps entice them to be a buyer. If they do wind up acquiring help before the trade deadline, who are some logical targets? For that, we need to look at the teams most likely to be selling and find out which players at positions of need — cornerback and perhaps edge rusher — Minnesota could target. We also need to keep in mind that draft capital is a premium. Here's what the Vikings have in the 2026 draft cupboard: 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 5th fround (from Philadelphia via the Sam Howell trade) 6th round (from Indianapolis via the Mekhi Blackmon trade) 7th round 7th round (from Houston via the 2024 Cam Akers trade) 7th round (from Carolina via the Adam Thielen trade) What are the Vikings most likely to do before the deadline? It doesn't sound like much. Alec Lewis, of The Athletic, says to "expect some tires to be kicked, but don’t bank on an addition or subtraction, barring a serious injury." NFL Network's Tom Pelissero doesn't "see them going out and making a massive type of acquisition," but he says he could "see them having interest" in the edge rusher market. SI's Albert Breer says the Vikings are "among a list of teams looking for corners." So, let's see what the likely sellers might have available at cornerback and edge. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett (not logical) All signs point to the Browns keeping Garrett, so this is probably a waste of time to even consider. If they did open the door for a trade, it would cost an ungodly amount, including multiple first-round picks and perhaps some talented players. Cleveland hasn't had any cornerbacks mentioned in the rumor mills. Las Vegas Raiders: Eric Stokes Stokes would be a massive upgrade at cornerback for the Vikings, who lack depth behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Stokes shouldn't cost a ton because he's on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. There's no guarantee that he re-signs with the Raiders, so Vegas might be smart to trade him now, rather than losing him for nothing in free agency. Stokes ranked No. 38 in PFF coverage grades for cornerbacks, having allowed 10 receptions on 19 targets for 123 yards. Quarterbacks have a 72.9 passer rating when throwing into Stokes' coverage, which puts him among the top 30 in the NFL this season. Maimi Dolphins: Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Matthew Judon Chubb, Phillips and Judon would could be upgrades over Dallas Turner on the edge. But does Minnesota really want to trade for an edge rusher when Andrew Van Ginkel is about to return to the lineup? It's only a need if Van Ginkel is expected to miss more time. Phillips: 3 sacks, 32 pressures, PFF's 15th-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Chubb: 3 sacks, 21 pressures, PFF's 101st-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Judon: 0 sacks, 5 pressures, PFF's 116th-ranked pass rusher at EDGE Breer is hearing that it could take a third-round pick to get Phillips. New Orleans Saints: Alontae Taylor Taylor would be an upgrade in the cornerback room, but Breer says the Saints are asking for a second or third-round pick for him. The 2022 second-round pick is due to become a free agent, so it would only make sense for Minnesota to give up a quality draft pick for him if they can sign him to an extension. According to PFF, Taylor has the 31st-best coverage grade among cornerbacks, putting him just ahead of Jets star Sauce Gardner. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux Mike Garafolo reported this week that the Giants are telling interested teams no, but Thibodeaux appears to be the odd man out in New York with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter starting on the edges. He's under contract through 2026, so it might take a Day 2 pick to get him. Should the Vikings offer a third-rounder next year to shore up the edge? Thibodeaux has 2.5 sacks and 25 pressures this season, while ranking 49th among edge rushers via PFF's grades. He had just 5.5 sacks last year, but he posted an 11.5-sack season in 2023, which is what the Giants thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2022. Washington Commanders: Noah Igbinoghene Igbinoghene might be the player that makes the most sense for Minnesota because he'd only cost them a late-round draft pick. He's a player who was on the field for 75% of Washington's snaps last season, but roster changes have led to him spending most of this season on the bench, having played a total of 40 defense snaps in 2025. The issue here is that he's best-suited for the slot, and the Vikings need someone who can fill the void of Jeff Okudah (concussions) on the outside. More from Vikings On SI
Three teams that should pursue a trade for Titans WR Calvin Ridley
As the Tennessee Titans are free falling towards another season as one of the NFL's worst teams, they will likely sell off some of their higher priced players before the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley tops the list of available players on the trade block even as he deals with a hamstring injury. Ridley's big play ability makes him an attractive option for teams looking to add another wide receiver. Even though he's been experiencing an up and down season so far - Ridley has only 16 receptions for 290 yards, he surpassed 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons following sitting out 2022 due to being suspended for betting. So assuming Ridley is healthy enough to remain a trade target, here are the teams that should take a chance on the controversial wide out. Pittsburgh Steelers Aaron Rodgers may have stabilized the Steelers' quarterback position, but that doesn't mean the offense is as consistent as it needs to be for Pittsburgh to truly contend in the AFC. Pittsburgh has only exceeded 30 points twice through seven games. Desperate to increase their offensive output, especially with the defense struggling, the Steelers could use more receiver depth behind DK Metcalf. Acquiring Ridley would provide Rodgers another weapon and make the decision to place double coverage on Metcalf more of a risk for opponents. If Ridley can get back to form, he would unlock an extra dimension for a Steelers team that still holds a comfortable lead in the AFC North. New England Patriots One of the surprising results of the season so far, the Patriots are 6-2 and in first place in the AFC East. But if New England truly hopes to make a playoff push, second-year quarterback Drake Maye may need more at his disposal. To this point, Maye has been forced to work without a true deep threat. And while he's been able to methodically move the ball, Ridley would make his life much easier and stretch the field even more. Seattle Seahawks Another first place team who could use another playmaker, the Seattle Seahawks' offense has started to show signs of weakness in recent weeks. Much like the Steelers, the Seahawks have a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He's been brilliant with three-straight 100 plus-yard games. However, Seattle has only scored 30 points once in its last four games. Pairing Smith-Njigba with Ridley would make the Seahawks more potent as they approach a stretch of the schedule with pivotal divisional matchups coming up.
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