Seat Index: Rating the 9 NBA head coaches in danger of being fired

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Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks, wiping away sweat caused by his white-hot seat. Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

Chris Finch’s Seat Index: Boiling Booty

Last season was a disappointment for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Trading for All-NBA center Rudy Gobert was supposed to mean an elite defense to go with their ascending offense. Instead, the fit between the two centers was understandably awkward, then Karl-Anthony Towns missed most of the season with an injury.

That Chris Finch was able to get the Wolves into the playoffs and to give the Denver Nuggets a decent run for their money is impressive itself, but that doesn’t mean the pressure isn’t on. The Wolves need to make some sort of a playoff run this season to justify the Gobert trade. If Finch can’t deliver on that, whether or not it’s truly “his fault,” he could be on the way out.

Jason Kidd’s Seat Index: Scorching Saddle

The hottest heinie in basketball this year belongs to Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks. A coach who is notorious for wearing out his welcome after a few seasons, Kidd has had an up-and-down tenure in Dallas. In his first season as coach, he led the Mavs to an upset of the Phoenix Suns and a spot in the Western Conference Finals. For an encore, he and the Mavericks tumbled out of the Play-In Tournament entirely.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are not a natural fit, so the former Hall of Fame point guard has to find a way to mesh their playing styles together, all while overseeing significant roster turnover at other positions. If the Mavericks fall short of another playoff run, Kidd could be launched from his hot seat right into the sun.