Olden Polynice Calls For Michael Malone To Replace Chris Finch

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Olden Polynice Calls For Michael Malone To Replace Chris Finch originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have had a strong run over the last few years, headlined by superstar guard Anthony Edwards. During his career, Edwards has had only two coaches, including a brief stint under Ryan Saunders, but for the most part, Chris Finch has been his head coach.
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It has been a successful stint for Finch, but bizarrely, some people are calling for his removal. One of those include former NBA mainstay Olden Polynice, who believes other coaches are a better option for the Timberwolves.
Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The Timberwolves had a rocky 2024-25 campaign because they were nearly .500 until March. They worked and turned their season around, securing the sixth seed en route to reaching the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.
Finch was integral to the success because he motivated his team and set them up properly. However, that is not enough for some people who think the Timberwolves might need a new voice in the locker room.
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Related: Tim Connelly Announces He Wants To Retain Reid, Alexander-Walker, and Randle
Polynice Does Not Want Finch To Coach The Timberwolves
Over the past five seasons, the Timberwolves have been on a positive path. It has been a stellar run for Minnesota because they are a Western Conference powerhouse alongside the likes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets.
For Polynice, he thinks the following Denver would be best for the Timberwolves because he feels free agent coach Michael Malone would do a better job coaching the team.
It would be a logical move because of Malone's previous relationship with Timberwolves team president Tim Connelly, who was with the Nuggets a few seasons ago. However, that will not be a popular move in the Timberwolves locker room because Finch is a beloved figure.
"You can only listen to your coach for so many years, and you might need a new voice. And that's one of the easier things for teams to do is to get rid of the one, instead of the team, so you just get rid of the coach, get a new voice in, a new energy, and see what happens," Polynice said on Fox Sports Radio.
The Timberwolves Will Keep Pushing With Finch
It has been a successful run for Finch and the Timberwolves, which is impressive because they were down in the dumps when he initially joined the team. However, the franchise believed in his vision, as he made Anthony Edwards his star player, resulting in unprecedented success with two-straight WCF appearances.
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Of course, they are aiming for a higher achievement, which is making the NBA Finals and winning it. That did not happen in the 2025 postseason, but they are shooting for it in future seasons.
It will be up to Connelly and the front office to provide support for the coaching staff and players. No matter what, they will be playing for a shot at winning the title, as the Timberwolves are already close enough to sniff that chance.
Related: Austin Rivers Admits Anthony Edwards' Supporting Cast Needs Big Improvements
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.