Report: Knicks eyeing new NBA head coach who is currently employed

The New York Knicks are going for moonshots right now as they look to fill their head coaching vacancy.

The Knicks are interested in potentially luring away Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reported on Friday. Begley notes however that the Knicks would be required to send back compensation to the Timberwolves if they hire away Finch (as would be the case with the hiring of any NBA head coach who is currently under contract).

The 55-year-old Finch just completed his fifth season as head coach of Minnesota. He holds an overall record of 209-160 (.566) with four total playoff berths. Finch also notably served as a head coach during the NBA All-Star Game in 2024 thanks to his success with the Timberwolves.

Ultimately, it might be very difficult for the Knicks to lure Finch away from the Timberwolves. Finch has now made the conference finals with Minnesota in back-to-back years and also has an ascendant 23-year-old superstar in Anthony Edwards leading the charge.

But the Knicks are a high-profile job in a marquee city. They also notably have Karl-Anthony Towns on their roster (Towns, of course, made multiple All-Star appearances under Finch’s leadership in Minnesota).

Finch is not the only big (and currently employed) name whom the Knicks, who just fired their head coach Tom Thibodeau, are after. A report broke earlier this week that the Knicks are interested in two other current Western Conference head coaches (with one of those names in particular looking to be progressing towards a potential interview with the Knicks).