1998–99 Cleveland Cavaliers season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Cleveland Cavaliers 1999 22 28 central 7 11 Mike Fratello Fox Sports Ohio WUAB WTAM Gund Arena Did not qualify CLE The 1998–99 Cleveland Cavaliers season was the 29th season for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association. Cleveland Cavaliers Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/ August 6, 2026 Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50. CBS News.com Staff NBA: Let The Games Begin! CBS News January 6, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nba-let-the-games-begin/ December 15, 2022 Season summary Off-season During the off-season, the Cavaliers re-signed free agent Johnny Newman, who previously played for the team during the 1986–87 season. Cavaliers Sign Free Agent Newman Associated Press January 24, 1999 https://apnews.com/article/499fcda4fa654492b448f320f9784ee7 October 3, 2022 Wise Mike Pro Basketball: A Scrum for the Title The New York Times February 4, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/04/sports/pro-basketball-a-scrum-for-the-title.html June 28, 2022 Regular season The Cavaliers lost their first three games of the regular season, but then posted a five-game winning streak afterwards. However, second-year star Zydrunas Ilgauskas suffered a foot injury after only just five games, and was out for the remainder of the season, averaging 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Cavaliers Thwart Magic The Ledger February 16, 1999 https://www.theledger.com/story/news/1999/02/17/cavaliers-thwart-magic/8051991007/ January 30, 2023 Roberts Selena Pro Basketball: Cavaliers Run Past and Over Knicks The New York Times February 19, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/19/sports/pro-basketball-cavaliers-run-past-and-over-knicks.html September 30, 2022 Broussard Chris Pro Basketball: Cavs' Kemp Throws His Weight Around The New York Times February 21, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/21/sports/pro-basketball-cavs-kemp-throws-his-weight-around.html October 14, 2021 At mid-season, the team traded Vitaly Potapenko to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Andrew DeClercq, Associated Press Cavs Trade Potapenko to Celtics CBS News March 11, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cavs-trade-potapenko-to-celtics/ October 14, 2021 Marbury Heads Home Deseret News March 12, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/3/12/19433978/marbury-heads-home January 9, 2023 Greenberg Alan His Strength Is His Power Hartford Courant March 17, 1999 https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1999-03-17-9903170413-story.html October 9, 2022 and signed free agent Corie Blount, who was previously released by the Los Angeles Lakers. Associated Press Dallas Wins as A.C. Reaches Milestone Los Angeles Times March 14, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-14-sp-17339-story.html November 7, 2022 With a 21–18 record as of April 16, 1999, the Cavaliers struggled posting a seven-game losing streak afterwards, 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. 1998–99 Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1999_games.html July 15, 2021 Shawn Kemp averaged 20.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while Wesley Person averaged 11.2 points per game and led the Cavaliers with 75 three-point field goals, and second-year guard Derek Anderson provided the team with 10.8 points and 3.8 assists 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 DeClercq averaged 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 33 games after the trade. Off the bench, Danny Ferry provided with 7.0 points per game, while Newman contributed 6.1 points per game, and Bob Sura averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 assists per game, but only shot .333 in field-goal percentage. 1998–99 Cleveland Cavaliers Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1999.html July 15, 2021 Kemp finished in eleventh place in Most Valuable Player voting. 1998–99 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.html October 23, 2025 However, Kemp was a shell of his former self as he reported to practice weighing 315 lbs; according to the Cavaliers' General Manager Wayne Embry, the league listed him at 280 lbs. Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Some Scales Tipping Over as N.B.A. Season Tips Off The New York Times February 7, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/07/sports/pro-basketball-some-scales-tipping-over-as-nba-season-tips-off.html July 28, 2017 Smith Sam Battle of the Bulge Detracts from Kemp's Performance Chicago Tribune December 8, 1999 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-12-08-9912080237-story.html November 16, 2022 Manfred Tom The Last Time There Was a Lockout, One NBA Star Packed on 35 Pounds Business Insider October 17, 2011 https://www.businessinsider.com/shawn-kemp-weight-gain-nba-lockout-2011-10 October 18, 2022 The Cavaliers finished 25th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 352,992 at the Gund Arena during the regular season, which was the fifth-lowest in the league. 1998–99 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1999.html January 23, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, head coach Mike Fratello was fired after six seasons with the Cavaliers, Associated Press Cavs' Front Office Shakeup CBS News June 1, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cavs-front-office-shakeup/ May 1, 2023 Associated Press N.B.A.: Roundup -- Cleveland: Cavs Fire Fratello; Embry Resigns The New York Times June 2, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/02/sports/nba-roundup-cleveland-cavs-fire-fratello-embry-resigns.html June 27, 2022 Associated Press Cavaliers Fire Fratello as Part of a Shake-Up Los Angeles Times June 2, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-02-sp-43430-story.html December 15, 2022 while Anderson and Newman were both traded to the Los Angeles Clippers; Associated Press Cavs Send Anderson to Clips CBS News August 4, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cavs-send-anderson-to-clips/ January 30, 2023 Gardner Kris  Lamond Murray Leaves Purgatory  The Houston Roundball Review  August 4, 1999  https://www.thehrr.com/nba/trade_archive/'99-'00season/'99off-season/0804Murray-DA.html June 22, 2026 White Lonnie Clippers Deal the Lakers a Blow Los Angeles Times August 9, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-09-sp-64115-story.html September 30, 2022 Newman would never play for the Clippers as the team traded him back to his former team, the New Jersey Nets, Associated Press Nets Trade Murdock to Clips CBS News September 23, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nets-trade-murdock-to-clips/ July 5, 2023 White Lonnie Another Pointed Day for Clippers: Pro Basketball: They Get Murdock in Trade with Nets, But Hear from Falk That Taylor Will Leave Team After the Season Los Angeles Times September 24, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-24-sp-13692-story.html July 5, 2023 and Blount signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns. Studies Raise Issue of Head Blows' Effects on Teens Los Angeles Times September 9, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-09-sp-8377-story.html November 17, 2022 2 Offseason Free agents Trades Draft picks 1998 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 48 Ryan Stack Center South Carolina 1st round pick (#19) traded to Milwaukee in Sherman Douglas deal.BUCKS: Significant Transactions in Bucks History Used to draft Pat Garrity. Roster Cleveland Cavaliers 1998–99 #5787DC #000000 #000000 #FFFFFF 23 Derek Anderson basketball G 6 5 220 1974–07–18 Kentucky 44 Corie Blount F 6 9 240 1969–01–04 Cincinnati 5 Earl Boykins G 5 5 133 1976–06–02 Eastern Michigan 6 Mitchell Butler G 6 5 210 1970–12–15 UCLA 55 Andrew DeClercq C 6 10 255 1973–02–01 Florida 35 Danny Ferry F/C 6 10 230 1966–10–17 Duke 45 Cedric Henderson basketball, born 1975 F 6 7 215 1975–03–11 Memphis 11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 7 3 238 1975–06–05 Lithuania 4 Shawn Kemp F/C 6 10 230 1969–11–26 Trinity Valley CC 12 Brevin Knight G 5 10 170 1975–11–08 Stanford 20 Johnny Newman F 6 7 190 1963–11–28 Richmond 1 Wesley Person G 6 6 195 1971–03–28 Auburn 10 Ryan Stack F/C 6 11 215 1975–07–24 South Carolina 3 Bob Sura G 6 5 200 1973–03–25 Florida State Mike Fratello Marc Iavaroni Sidney Lowe Ron Rothstein https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/1999.html April 2, 1999 Regular season Season standings CLE CLE Game log Cleveland Cavaliers 1999 #5787DC #FFFFFF Total: 22–28 (Home: 15–10; Road: 7–18) Cleveland Cavaliers February yes #000000 #F60 4 3 1 3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 || February 5, 1999 || @ Atlanta | L 83–100 | | | | Georgia Dome19,806 | 0–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || February 6, 1999 || @ Boston | L 73–77 | | | | FleetCenter18,173 | 0–2 Cleveland Cavaliers March #000000 #F60 6 2 3 6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || March 2, 1999 || Boston | W 116–99 | | | | Gund Arena12,906 | 6–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || March 23, 1999 || Boston | W 113–86 | | | | Gund Arena15,810 | 13–11 Cleveland Cavaliers April #000000 #F60 5 4 3 7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || April 10, 1999 || Atlanta | W 81–67 | | | | Gund Arena13,859 | 18–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 36 || April 12, 1999 || @ Boston | L 89–103 | | | | FleetCenter15,622 | 18–18 Cleveland Cavaliers May #000000 #F60 0 1 0 2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 48 || May 2, 1999 || Atlanta | W 65–76 | | | | Gund Arena12,690 | 22–26 CLE 1999 Player stats Regular season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGShawn Kemp424235.148.250.078.99.22.41.11.120.5Zydrunas Ilgauskas5534.250.90.060.08.80.80.81.415.2Wesley Person454229.845.337.560.43.21.80.80.411.2Derek Anderson381325.739.830.483.62.93.81.30.110.8Brevin Knight393830.442.50.074.53.47.71.80.29.6Cedric Henderson504830.341.716.781.33.92.31.20.59.1Andrew DeClercq333125.650.20.067.95.80.61.10.69.0Vitaly Potapenko171227.543.70.067.35.50.90.60.98.4Danny Ferry501021.247.639.287.92.01.10.50.27.0Johnny Newman50219.042.237.781.01.50.80.60.26.1Mitchell Butler31113.548.237.971.91.40.70.50.15.4Bob Sura50616.833.320.063.12.03.00.90.34.3Corie Blount20018.434.30.052.45.30.50.90.63.4Ryan Stack18011.137.80.095.01.90.30.10.62.6Earl Boykins17010.034.515.466.70.81.60.30.02.6Antonio Lang1006.566.70.055.61.60.10.20.11.3Litterial Green102.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Awards Records Milestones All-Star Transactions Trades Free agents Development League References Cleveland Cavaliers on Database Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers on Basketball Reference Category:Cleveland Cavaliers seasons Cleveland Cleve Cleve