The

1998–99 NBA season The 1998–99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Due to the lockout, the regular season was reduced to 50 games for each team, and began on February 5, 1999. The 1999 NBA All-Star Game, which was to be ...

was the 29th season for the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

.1998-99 Cleveland Cavaliers
/ref> Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50. During the off-season, the Cavaliers re-signed free agent Johnny Newman, who previously played for the team during the 1986–87 season. However, after five games into the regular season, second-year star

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Zydrunas Ilgauskas (; ; born June 5, 1975) is a Lithuanian-born American former professional basketball player who played the center position. The Ilgauskas played for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association from 1997 to ...

was out with a season-ending foot injury, averaging 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. At mid-season, the team traded Vitaly Potapenko to the

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...

in exchange for Andrew DeClercq, and signed free agent Corie Blount, who was previously released by the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

. With a 21–18 record in mid April, the Cavaliers struggled as they posted a 7-game losing streak, and lost ten of their final eleven games of the season, finishing in seventh place in the Central Division with a 22–28 record, and missing the

NBA playoffs The NBA playoffs is the annual Playoffs, postseason Tournament#Knockout tournaments, tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. Since 1949, the four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held afte ...

Shawn Kemp Shawn Travis Kemp Sr. (born November 26, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association ( ...

led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 20.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while

Wesley Person Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After his playing career, Person became a women's basketball assistant coach and then the h ...

averaged 11.2 points per game, and second-year guard Derek Anderson provided the team with 10.8 points per game off the bench. In addition, second-year guard Brevin Knight contributed 9.6 points, 7.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while second-year forward Cedric Henderson provided with 9.1 points per game, and

Danny Ferry Daniel John Willard Ferry (born October 17, 1966) is an American executive and former professional basketball player who played the forward position. Considered one of the most celebrated basketball players in the United States from the high sc ...

contributed 7.0 points per game off the bench. However, Kemp was a shell of his former self as he reported to practice, weighing 315 lbs, and according to the team's General Manager

Wayne Embry Wayne Richard Embry (born March 26, 1937) is an American former professional basketball player and basketball executive. Embry's 11-year playing career as a center spanned from 1958 to 1969 playing for the Cincinnati Royals, Boston Celtics and M ...

, the league listed him at 280. Following the season, head coach

Mike Fratello Michael Robert Fratello (born February 24, 1947), nicknamed "the Czar", is an American sports broadcasting, sports broadcaster and former professional basketball coach. He is currently a part-time Color commentator, analyst for FanDuel Sports Net ...

was fired after spending six seasons with the Cavaliers, while Anderson and Newman were both traded to the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

, who then dealt Newman back to the

New Jersey Nets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

, and Blount signed as a free agent with the

Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...

. Key Dates:

Offseason

Free agents

Trades

Draft picks

* 1st round pick (#19) traded to

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Sherman Douglas Sherman Douglas (born September 15, 1966) is an American former professional basketball player from Syracuse University who played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers from 1989 to 2 ...

deal.BUCKS: Significant Transactions in Bucks History
/ref> Used to draft Pat Garrity.

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, - style="background:#fcc;" , 1 , , February 5, 1999 , , @

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

L 83–100
, , , ,

Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome was a Stadium#Types, domed stadium in the Southeastern United States. Located in Atlanta between downtown Atlanta, downtown to the east and Vine City to the west, it was owned and operated by the State of Georgia as part of th ...

19,806 , 0–1 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 2 , , February 6, 1999 , , @

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

L 73–77
, , , , FleetCenter
18,173 , 0–2 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 13 , , March 2, 1999 , ,

W 116–99
, , , , Gund Arena
12,906 , 6–7 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 24 , , March 23, 1999 , ,

W 113–86
, , , , Gund Arena
15,810 , 13–11 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 35 , , April 10, 1999 , ,

W 81–67
, , , , Gund Arena
13,859 , 18–17 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 36 , , April 12, 1999 , , @

L 89–103
, , , , FleetCenter
15,622 , 18–18 , - style="background:#fcc;" , 48 , , May 2, 1999 , ,

W 65–76
, , , , Gund Arena
12,690 , 22–26

Player stats

Regular season

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

All-Star

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Development League

References

*
Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:1998-99 Cleveland Cavaliers Season Cleveland Cavaliers seasons Cleve Cleve