It won't be anything to do with grease on the wheel spindle, nothing moves on that once it's tightened. All the rotation is taken in the bearings.
Most common thing is dragging brake pads, but if you're sure it isn't the brake .............................
Check the spacers, apply a little grease inside the dust seals which run on the spacers, there are usually multi-lips, 2 or 3, and a little grease between these will help the life of the seals and help keep water and dust out.
I always use a very light smear of grease on wheel spindles just to keep corrosion at bay and ease removal