In 2003 it seemed to look up for Wolves. Kevin Garnett had a huge season, finishing 2nd in MVP vote while averaging a solid 23.0 ppg and 13.4 rebounds per pastime as Minnesota Timber wolves finish in 3rd place with a 51-31 record. With home court benefit for first time facing three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. After being blown out at home in Game 1 Minnesota Timberwolves had a chance to take a 3-1 series lead as y led heading into 4th quarter of Game 4 in Los Angeles. However, Lakers came back to win game on way to winning series in six games, as Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated in first round for 7th straight year. In 2003, Minnesota Timberwolves made two stunning offseason moves, trading away forward Joe Smith and injured guard Terrell Brandon in a multi-player deal for Ervin Johnson, Sam Cassell and embattled guard Latrell Sprewell. During 2003-04 NBA season, Minnesota Timberwolves became team everyone wanted to beat. y finished as season as top seed in Western Conference with a record of 58-24, and beat Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings in first two rounds of NBA playoffs before losing to Lakers in Western Conference finals. Kevin Garnett finally earned his first MVP award with 24.2 points per game and 13.9 rebounds per game. In 2004-05 season, Wolves kept same team from previous season.

team was plagued with contract disputes and complaining of key players Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, and Troy Hudson. Coach Flip Saunders was replaced in midseason by GM Kevin McHale, who took over team for rest of season. Minnesota Timberwolves finished 44-38, and missed playoffs for first time in eight years. During 2005 Offseason, Kevin McHale and Wolves started ir search for a head coach. McHale interviewed Seattle assistant coach Dwane Casey, San Antonio Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, former coach John Lucas and Wolves assistants Randy Wittman, Sidney Lowe and Jerry Sichting, among ors. On June 17, 2005, Minnesota Timberwolves hired Dwane Casey as new head coach. This will be Casey's first head coaching job. He will be Wolves' 7th head coach in ir 16-year history. In 2005 Draft, Minnesota Timberwolves selected Rashad McCants, a shooting guard from North Carolina with 14th overall pick of 1st round. Minnesota Timberwolves also selected Bracey Wright, a guard from Indiana with 17th pick of 2nd round (47th overall). During offseason, y traded All-Star Sam Cassell and a protected future first round draft pick to Los Angeles Clippers for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers. y also signed free agent Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

On January 26, 2006 Wolves traded forward Wally Szczerbiak, centers Dwayne Jones and Michael Olowokandi, and a future first-round draft pick to Boston Celtics. In return y received forward/guard Ricky Davis, center Mark Blount, forward Justin Reed, guard Marcus Banks, and two second round draft picks. In a separate trade on same day, Minnesota Timberwolves traded Nikoloz Tskitishvili to Phoenix Suns for a 2006 Second-Round Draft Pick. Television broadcasters for Minnesota Minnesota Timberwolves are Tom Hanneman and Jim Peterson. Chad Hartman is voice of Wolves on radio station KFAN.