[1] During the off-season, the Timberwolves signed free agents Troy Hudson and Kendall Gill.
[2][3][4] Kevin Garnett performed well throughout the season, winning the All-Star MVP award in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta,[5][6][7][8] and finishing second in MVP voting behind MVP Tim Duncan with 43 first-place votes,[9][10] plus also finishing in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
[11][12] Despite losing both Terrell Brandon and Felipe Lopez for the entire season to knee injuries,[13][14] the Timberwolves posted a 12–1 record in February, held a 29–20 record at the All-Star break,[15] and finished the season with a 51–31 record, good enough to earn the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage for the playoffs.
[17] However, for the seventh straight year in the Garnett era, the Timberwolves did not make it out of the first round of the playoffs, as they lost to the 5th-seeded and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference First Round.
[18][19][20] Following the season, Smith was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks,[21][22] while Anthony Peeler signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings,[23] Gill signed with the Chicago Bulls,[24] and Brandon was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.