Minnesota Sports Forum

Fair analysis lip.
I'm fairly pro Finch, but the fact that players drafted in the TC era have not just failed to develop, they've gotten worse during their time on the roster.

Is that all Finches fault? It has appeared to be no to this point, but the better Rob plays elsewhere the worse of an indictment it comes- especially if the likes of TJ, Clark and God forbid Beringer also all stagnate

Wendell Moore Jr. - journeyman end of bench/G-league player

Matteo Spagnolo - never showed enough promise to come over to the U.S.

Jaylen Clark - legit good pick at #53 even if he never becomes anything more than a bench defensive specialist.

Josh Minott - got a real shot in Boston, but eventually benched in favor of others, then traded.

Leonard Miller - never got a shot in Minnesota and apparently Chicago feels the same way about him.

Rob Dillingham - TBD based on his age and lack of opportunity in Minnesota.

Terrence Shannon, Jr. - I guess we can still call it a TBD given his injuries this year.

Joan Beringer - TBD. Promising start.

Rocco Zikarsky - TBD. Promising start.

So I think Connelly has hit on one draft pick and the rest are either misses or TBDs.

As for Dillingham, I think FNG used the word "free", meaning he has an opportunity to play free in Chicago and make some mistakes along the way. He seems like the type of player that needs that sort of rope in order to grown and thrive. I'm not sure we could afford to do that given the fact we've been in a dogfight the last two seasons to stay out of the damn play-in mess. Perhaps Connelly should have seen this coming before making such a speculative play for Dillingham, which did indeed cost us.

I think Billy Donovan agrees with Finch...

https://x.com/JoelXLorenzi/status/2021802697960137192

(the full quote is in the link...)

“He’s the one guy that, off the dribble, can really go by people and get into the teeth of the D. … but the decision making, the shots that he’s taking are not sustainable.
.
.
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“He has to attack, but he's gotta make better decisions. I think that will come in time."

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:21 am I think Billy Donovan agrees with Finch...

https://x.com/JoelXLorenzi/status/2021802697960137192

(the full quote is in the link...)

“He’s the one guy that, off the dribble, can really go by people and get into the teeth of the D. … but the decision making, the shots that he’s taking are not sustainable.
.
.
.
“He has to attack, but he's gotta make better decisions. I think that will come in time."

I think you buried the lead on this one. Donovan says they have to help him get there. Clearly they are doing that by getting him meaningful minutes.

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:57 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:21 am I think Billy Donovan agrees with Finch...

https://x.com/JoelXLorenzi/status/2021802697960137192

(the full quote is in the link...)

“He’s the one guy that, off the dribble, can really go by people and get into the teeth of the D. … but the decision making, the shots that he’s taking are not sustainable.
.
.
.
“He has to attack, but he's gotta make better decisions. I think that will come in time."

I think you buried the lead on this one. Donovan says they have to help him get there. Clearly they are doing that by getting him meaningful minutes.

Yeah, I didn't mean to hide that Dillingham needs meaningful minutes. I just wanted to point out that Finch isn't in a position to sacrifice wins for Dillingham to get those meaningful minutes.

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:13 am

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:57 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 9:21 am I think Billy Donovan agrees with Finch...

https://x.com/JoelXLorenzi/status/2021802697960137192

(the full quote is in the link...)

“He’s the one guy that, off the dribble, can really go by people and get into the teeth of the D. … but the decision making, the shots that he’s taking are not sustainable.
.
.
.
“He has to attack, but he's gotta make better decisions. I think that will come in time."

I think you buried the lead on this one. Donovan says they have to help him get there. Clearly they are doing that by getting him meaningful minutes.

Yeah, I didn't mean to hide that Dillingham needs meaningful minutes. I just wanted to point out that Finch isn't in a position to sacrifice wins for Dillingham to get those meaningful minutes.

I just have a problem with the premise that we would have sacrificed wins. We were getting horrible play from the pg position in at least have of our games this season so where was the risk?

Why don't we believe that Dillingham would have improved significantly and been a huge boon to the team come PO time?

I would suggest that Finch just isn't cut out to coach at this level. Almost every other team is developing players regardless of there place in the standings.

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:32 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:13 am

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:57 am

I think you buried the lead on this one. Donovan says they have to help him get there. Clearly they are doing that by getting him meaningful minutes.

Yeah, I didn't mean to hide that Dillingham needs meaningful minutes. I just wanted to point out that Finch isn't in a position to sacrifice wins for Dillingham to get those meaningful minutes.

I just have a problem with the premise that we would have sacrificed wins. We were getting horrible play from the pg position in at least have of our games this season so where was the risk?

Why don't we believe that Dillingham would have improved significantly and been a huge boon to the team come PO time?

I would suggest that Finch just isn't cut out to coach at this level. Almost every other team is developing players regardless of there place in the standings.

Fair points. And clearly, a common critique of Finch. I don't have an answer, or a strong opinion on what TC should do with Finch.

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:32 am

60WinTim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 11:13 am

mjs34 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:57 am

I think you buried the lead on this one. Donovan says they have to help him get there. Clearly they are doing that by getting him meaningful minutes.

Yeah, I didn't mean to hide that Dillingham needs meaningful minutes. I just wanted to point out that Finch isn't in a position to sacrifice wins for Dillingham to get those meaningful minutes.

I just have a problem with the premise that we would have sacrificed wins. We were getting horrible play from the pg position in at least have of our games this season so where was the risk?

Why don't we believe that Dillingham would have improved significantly and been a huge boon to the team come PO time?

I would suggest that Finch just isn't cut out to coach at this level. Almost every other team is developing players regardless of there place in the standings.

That’s my view as well, msj. Reasonable minds can differ on what the impact playing Dilly would have been over time but there’s no denying the fact that Finch did not give Dilly the minutes needed to fully assess his capabilities or develop them. And there’s no denying that Finch has a very short leash on less experienced young players than he has on the vets. He gets comfortable with certain players and is very stubborn about leaving his comfort zone, even when vets in his comfort zone are playing poorly - aka Mike Conley.

Q-is-here wrote: ↑Thu Feb 12, 2026 8:28 am Wendell Moore Jr. - journeyman end of bench/G-league player

Matteo Spagnolo - never showed enough promise to come over to the U.S.

Jaylen Clark - legit good pick at #53 even if he never becomes anything more than a bench defensive specialist.

Josh Minott - got a real shot in Boston, but eventually benched in favor of others, then traded.

Leonard Miller - never got a shot in Minnesota and apparently Chicago feels the same way about him.

Rob Dillingham - TBD based on his age and lack of opportunity in Minnesota.

Terrence Shannon, Jr. - I guess we can still call it a TBD given his injuries this year.

Joan Beringer - TBD. Promising start.

Rocco Zikarsky - TBD. Promising start.

I think your assessment is spot on, Q. We could add Luka Garza as a young free agent acquisition who showed promise here but never got a ton of meaningful minutes and ended up leaving for Boston where he’s doing well.