Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24
Chris Finch Says Micah Nori’s 1-Year Blazers Deal Overshadowed Head-Coaching Break
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24

Chris Finch Says Micah Nori’s 1-Year Blazers Deal Overshadowed Head-Coaching Break

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24

Summary

  • A one-year contract with team options for the next two seasons drew attention away from Micah Nori’s hiring as Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chris Finch said before the NBA Draft.
  • Finch said Nori prioritized opportunity over money in taking one of the NBA’s 30 head-coaching jobs, calling the arrangement a personal business decision between Nori, the team and his agent.
  • Nori, 52, had interviewed for seven head-coaching openings and was a finalist in Cleveland, New York and Chicago before landing his first top job in Portland.
  • Finch, who worked with Nori in Denver and made him Minnesota’s lead assistant in 2021, said Nori’s biggest transition will be leadership and staff-building rather than X-and-O work.

Insights

Is Micah Nori's 'prove-it' contract with Portland the new reality for first-time NBA head coaches?
After trading Julius Randle, what is Minnesota's next move to build a championship roster around Anthony Edwards?
Can Jaden McDaniels become the true second star the Timberwolves need to finally win a championship?