[1] During the off-season, the Timberwolves acquired Stanley Roberts from the Los Angeles Clippers,[2][3][4] and later on signed free agent Tom Hammonds in November.
[5][6] In October, All-Star forward Kevin Garnett signed a six-year contract extension with the Timberwolves, which was worth $126 million.
[11][12][13] Chris Carr, who became the team's starting shooting guard this season, also went down with an ankle injury, only playing 51 games.
[14] At mid-season, the team traded long-time guard Doug West to the Vancouver Grizzlies in exchange for Anthony Peeler.
[20] Garnett and second-year star Stephon Marbury both continued to establish themselves as two of the brightest stars in the NBA, as Garnett averaged 18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York,[21][22][23][24] and also finished tied in eleventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting,[25][26] while Marbury averaged 17.7 points, 8.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game.