The Timberwolves have never been a free agency hot-spot. The highest-profile signing in franchise history is, what…Michael Olowokandi in 2003? Mike James in 2006? Andrei Kirilenko in the twilight of his career in 2012?
The likes of Tom Gugliotta, Terrell Brandon, Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, and Al Jefferson were all acquired via trade. Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, and Kevin Love were all drafted by the Wolves or acquired on draft night.
It’s historically due to a combination of capping themselves out with mediocre players, the team being horrible for more than half of it’s existence, and the reality of cold winters in Minneapolis.