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1998 NBA offseason

The 1998 NBA offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 1998 NBA offseason.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. June 24 · NBA Draft

    Nowitzki, Carter and Pierce arrive through a night of swaps →

    The Clippers took Michael Olowokandi first, while Dallas moved for Dirk Nowitzki, Toronto exchanged Antawn Jamison for Vince Carter and Boston stopped Paul Pierce's slide at No. 10.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    1998 NBA

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Michael Olowokandi

    Los Angeles Clippers

    Open every pick

  2. July 1 · Lockout

    The league closes before the market can open

    The collective-bargaining dispute froze signings, trades and team contact for more than six months, compressing an entire offseason into the frantic weeks before a 50-game season.

  3. January 22 · Sign-and-trade

    Scottie Pippen leaves Chicago for Houston →

    The post-dynasty Bulls sent Pippen to the Rockets for Roy Rogers and a second-round pick, placing another decorated veteran beside Olajuwon and Barkley.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeJanuary 22, 1999To HOUHOUPIPPEN33To CHICHIROGERS2520002NDround assetScottie Pippen to HoustonHOU receives Scottie PippenCHI receives Roy Rogers, 2000 2nd-round pick3 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  4. January 29 · Free agency

    Antonio McDyess returns to Denver

    After one season in Phoenix, McDyess went back to the Nuggets as the centerpiece of their attempt to emerge from the league's longest rebuild.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    50Free agencyJanuary 29, 1999From PHXPHXMCDYESS24To DENDENMCDYESS24McDyess returns to DenverThe lockout-compressed market sent McDyess back to the team with which he had become an All-Star-level forward.Phoenix Suns → Denver NuggetsOpen offseason →