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.
[22][23] During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Chris Webber from the Washington Wizards,[24][25][26][27][28] and signed free agents Vlade Divac,[29][30][31][32] Vernon Maxwell, three-point specialist Jon Barry,[33] and second-year center Scot Pollard, who was signed midway through the season while Terry Dehere was released to free agency.
[41][42][43] In the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Kings got off to a good start, taking a 2–1 series lead over the 3rd–seeded Utah Jazz.
[56][57] For the season, the Kings added new purple alternate road uniforms with black side panels to their shorts, which would remain in use until 2002.