The 1998–99 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. In the offseason, the Cavaliers re-signed free agent Johnny Newman. After a four-month lockout cut the season in half, the Cavaliers playoff hopes were dashed as second-year star Zydrunas Ilgauskas broke his left foot after playing just five games. At midseason, the team traded Vitaly Potapenko to the Boston Celtics for Andrew DeClercq. With a 21–18 record in mid April, the Cavaliers struggled and lost ten of their final eleven games, finishing 7th in the Central Division with a 22–28 record. Shawn Kemp led the team in scoring, rebounds and minutes. However, he 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, the league listed him at 280.

Following the season, head coach Mike Fratello was fired after spending six seasons with the team, and Newman was traded along with second-year guard Derek Anderson to the Los Angeles Clippers, but was then dealt back to the New Jersey Nets.

Key Dates:

Note: GP= Games played; GS = Games started; MIN= Minutes; FG% = field goal %, FT% = free throw %, 3FG% = 3 point % STL= Steals; BLK = Blocks; AST = Assists; REB = Rebounds; PTS = Points

Regular Season

Playoffs

...
Wikipedia