[2][3][4] In an effort to improve their team, the Hawks strengthened their defense by signing free agent All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo.
[10][11][12] The team also signed Eldridge Recasner, and former Georgia Tech University guard Jon Barry.
[33][34] In the playoffs, the Hawks would be put to the test as they faced off against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference First Round; the Pistons took a 2–1 series lead,[35][36][37] but the Hawks managed to win the next two games, thus winning the series in five games.
[46][47][48][49] The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years.
[60][61][62][63] Following the season, Barry signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,[64] while James re-signed with his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers,[65] and Ken Norman, who only played just 17 games this season due to a back injury, retired.