The 1998–99 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. In the off-season, the Cavaliers re-signed free agent Johnny Newman, who previously played for the team during the 1986–87 season. After a lockout cut the season in half to 50 games, the Cavaliers' playoff hopes were dashed as second-year star Zydrunas Ilgauskas broke his left foot after playing just five games, averaging 15.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. At midseason, the team traded Vitaly Potapenko to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Andrew DeClercq, and signed free agent Corie Blount, who was previously released by the Los Angeles Lakers. With a 21–18 record in mid April, the Cavaliers struggled as they went on a 7-game losing streak, and lost ten of their final elev