Timberwolves coach Chris Finch is one of the more transparent coaches in the NBA, if not all pro sports. If you listen close enough, his plans become rather apparent.
On Monday, Finch effectively detailed the broad rotational decisions Minnesota will make given the current roster status when the regular season begins.
Asked how you keep players on a deep roster happy, Finch pointed to role acceptance before laying out his plans.
“We feel like we know we’re going to have an (eight-to-nine man) rotation, for sure,” Finch said. “Probably could push to 10. But whoever plays at nine and 10 might be different every night amongst a small group of guys.”
So the top eight looks to be locked in. Seven of those players are back from Minnesota’s top eight from a year ago. The only remaining spot belonged to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who joined Atlanta via a sign-and-trade deal in the summer.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) dribbles during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Asked about replacing Alexander-Walker within many of Minnesota’s best lineup combinations from a year ago, Finch pointed to Terrence Shannon Jr.
“We feel TJ can bring us a lot of things. We feel like he’ll drive winning, too.” Finch said. “What those lineup combinations work out to be exactly, we’re not 100% sure. I do love the fact you have Donte (DiVincenzo) and Naz (Reid), who are like two starter-caliber players that are in the unit, so they should drive winning. You put them in a lot of different combinations and they end up being net positive. So hopefully they’ll be able to carry some of these young guys when they’re playing alongside of them, and we feel confident they will.”
Everything is subject to change with weeks remaining in camp. One injury would throw a wrench in everything. Minnesota’s entire rotation was blown up on the eve of camp a year ago, when the team traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks.
But assuming the top eight consists of Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Mike Conley, Reid, DiVincenzo and Shannon Jr., who emerged in the Western Conference Finals, that leaves what sounds like a small batch of potentially inconsistent minutes for everyone else to split.
One or two of Rob Dillingham, Jaylen Clark, Joan Beringer and possibly Bones Hyland could be competing for the remaining 15 to 20 available minutes a night depending on matchups or who’s playing well.
Those uncertain roles aren’t easy to excel in, particularly for young players, but they’re often the reality for guys on top-tier teams.
“So they gotta be ready,” Finch said. “They gotta stay sane and stay focused on what the main task is. That is trying to advance this team and win.”
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