[1] In the 1996 NBA draft, the Timberwolves selected shooting guard Ray Allen from the University of Connecticut with the fifth overall pick, but soon traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for top draft pick point guard Stephon Marbury out of Georgia Tech University.
[2][3][4][5][6] The team also acquired James Robinson from the Portland Trail Blazers,[7][8] and second-year center Cherokee Parks from the Dallas Mavericks,[9][10] while signing free agents, rookie center Dean Garrett,[11] second-year guard Chris Carr, and Stojko Vrankovic during the off-season.
[12] However, Michael Williams would miss the entire season due to a strained plantar fascia in his left heel.
[15] The addition of Marbury made a positive effect on the entire team, as the Timberwolves went on to make their first ever playoff appearance, finishing in third place in the Midwest Division with a 40–42 record, which was below .500 in winning percentage, but still good enough for the #6 seed in the Western Conference.
[38][39][40] For the season, the Timberwolves revealed a new primary logo of a gray wolf with pine trees,[41] and changed their uniforms adding dark blue and black to their color scheme.