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.
From there, the Sonics would play around .500 for the remainder of the season finishing fifth in the Pacific Division with a 25–25 record,[29] losing a tie-breaker for the #8 seed in the Western Conference to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 1990.
[31][32][33] Following the season, Schrempf signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers,[34][35][36][37] while Hawkins was traded to the Chicago Bulls,[38][39][40][41] Polynice signed with the Utah Jazz,[42][43] and Ellis, Owens and MacLean were all traded to the Orlando Magic.