[4][5][6][7][8] During the off-season, the team acquired B. J. Armstrong from the expansion Toronto Raptors,[9][10][11] and signed free agents Jerome Kersey,[12][13] and Jon Barry.
[14][15] With Armstrong and Kersey both in the starting lineup at point guard, and small forward respectively, Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin both played off the bench for most of the regular season.
At mid-season, Hardaway was traded along with Chris Gatling to the Miami Heat in exchange for Kevin Willis, and Bimbo Coles.
The team posted a 10–win improvement, finishing in sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 36–46 record, missing the playoffs by three games.
[24] Latrell Sprewell led the team with 18.9 points and 1.6 steals per game, while Smith averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.