After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games.
[7][8][9][10][11] However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout.
During the off-season, the team signed free agent Derek Harper,[17][18] and re-acquired former Lakers center Travis Knight after one season with the Boston Celtics.
[23][24] The Lakers had signed free agent and rebounding specialist Dennis Rodman, who was well known for winning championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls.
[29][30] At mid-season, Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell were both traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for All-Star forward Glen Rice, J.R. Reid and B. J. Armstrong,[31][32][33][34] who was released to free agency and signed with the Orlando Magic.
[51][52][53][54][55] Following the season, Rambis was fired as head coach,[56][57] while Reid signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks,[58] Sean Rooks was traded back to his former team, the Dallas Mavericks,[59][60][61] rookie forward Ruben Patterson signed with the Seattle SuperSonics,[62] and Harper was dealt to the Detroit Pistons, but was released and then retired.