Complex sentence: In 1998, a year after signing Kevin Garnett to an unprecedented 6-year, $126 million contract, the Timberwolves were used as the poster child of irresponsible spending as the NBA endured a 4-month lockout that wiped out much of the season.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1998, a year after signing Kevin Garnett to an unprecedented 6-year, $126 million contract. The Timberwolves were then used as the poster child of irresponsible spending as the NBA endured a 4-month lockout that wiped out much of the season.