The 1998–99 NBA season was the Raptors' fourth season in the National Basketball Association.^[1] On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. 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. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.^{[12][13][14][15][16]}

In the 1998 NBA draft, the Raptors selected Antawn Jamison from the University of North Carolina with the fourth overall pick, but soon traded him to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for his college teammate Vince Carter,^{[17][18][19][20][21]} who is also second-year star Tracy McGrady's cousin.^[22] During the off-season, the team acquired Charles Oakley from the New York Knicks,^{[23][24][25][26]} acquired Kevin Willis from the Houston Rockets,^{[27][28][29][30]} and signed free agent Michael Stewart.^[31]

During the regular season, the Raptors moved into their new arena Air Canada Centre.^[32][33] With the addition of Carter, the Raptors posted a 4–8 record in February. After a 6–12 start, the Raptors played their best basketball winning 12 of their next 14 games,^[34] while posting their first monthly winning record at 11–6 in March. However, they lost 13 of their final 18 games and finished the season with a 23–27 record, sixth in the Central Division.^[35]

Carter averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named Rookie of the Year,^{[36][37][38][39]} and selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, Doug Christie averaged 15.2 points and 2.3 steals per game, while Willis provided the team with 12.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and sixth man Dee Brown contributed 11.2 points per game off the bench, and led the league with 135 three-point field goals. McGrady averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game also off the bench, while Oakley averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, John Wallace contributed 8.6 points per game off the bench, and second-year guard Alvin Williams contributed 5.0 points and 2.6 assists per game.^[40]

Following the season, Wallace re-signed as a free agent with his former team, the New York Knicks,^[41][42][43] and Reggie Slater was released to free agency.

• June 25, 1998 – The Raptors trade Marcus Camby to the New York Knicks in exchange for Charles Oakley.
• January 21, 1999 – The Raptors trade Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets for the Nuggets first-round pick in the 1999 NBA draft.

^[44]

NBA draft

Carter was drafted by the NBA's Golden State Warriors 5th overall and then traded to the Toronto Raptors for Antawn Jamison, his UNC college teammate and best friend.

Main article: 1998 NBA draft

More information Round, Pick ...

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Antawn Jamison (traded to Golden State)	SF/PF	United States	North Carolina
2	47	Tyson Wheeler	PG	United States	Rhode Island

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• Vince Carter, NBA Rookie of the Year
• Vince Carter, NBA All-Rookie First Team