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.
[2][3][4][5][6] Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled.
[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.
[22] In a three-team midseason trade, the Timberwolves dealt Stephon Marbury along with Chris Carr to the New Jersey Nets, and acquired Terrell Brandon from the Milwaukee Bucks,[23][24][25][26] while signing free agent and three-point specialist Dennis Scott, who was previously released by the New York Knicks.
They finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 25–25 record, and made their third consecutive trip to the playoffs, winning a tie-breaker for the #8 seed in the Western Conference over the Seattle SuperSonics.