1998–99 Chicago Bulls season

The 1998–99 Chicago Bulls season was the franchise's 33rd 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]

1998–99 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachTim Floyd
General managerJerry Krause
Owner(s)Jerry Reinsdorf
ArenaUnited Center
Results
Record13–37 (.260)
PlaceDivision: 8th (Central)
Conference: 15th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV
(Wayne Larrivee, John Paxson)
Fox Sports Chicago
(Tom Dore, John Paxson)
RadioWMVP
(Neil Funk, Johnny "Red" Kerr)
< 1997–98 1999–00 >

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]

The Bulls entered the season as the three-time defending NBA champions, having defeated the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals in six games, winning their sixth NBA championship, and completing a second three-peat in the 1990s. However, with Phil Jackson's resignation as head coach, the departures of Scottie Pippen (who was traded to the Houston Rockets), Dennis Rodman (who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent), and Michael Jordan announcing his retirement for the second time on January 13, 1999, during the latter stages of the lockout, it marked the end of the Bulls dynasty in the 1990s.[17]

Under new head coach Tim Floyd,[18][19][20] plus the off-season acquisitions of Brent Barry,[21][22][23] Mark Bryant, and Andrew Lang,[24][25][26] the Bulls were a shell of their former selves, losing eight of their first nine games of the season. The team lost 14 of their final 17 games, and finished in last place in the Central Division with a 13–37 record (roughly the equivalent of 21–61),[27] missing the playoffs for the first time since 1984.[28] Toni Kukoč led the team with 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, while Ron Harper averaged 11.2 points and 1.7 steals per game, and Barry contributed 11.1 points per game. In addition, Dickey Simpkins showed improvement averaging 9.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Bryant provided the team with 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and Randy Brown contributed 8.8 points and 1.7 steals per game.[29] The Bulls were just the second defending champions to miss the postseason, behind the 1969–70 Boston Celtics.

On April 10, 1999, the Bulls set an all-time NBA record low for points in the shot clock era in an 82–49 loss at the United Center to the Miami Heat.[30][31][32][33] Following the season, Barry was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics,[34][35][36] while Harper signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers to reunite with Jackson, who was hired to coach the Lakers,[37][38][39] Bryant signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Lang and Bill Wennington were both released to free agency.[40]

Offseason

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NBA draft

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Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 28 Corey Benjamin SG   United States Oregon State
2 34 Shammond Williams PG   United States North Carolina
2 58 Maceo Baston F   United States Michigan

Roster

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1998–99 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 31 Barry, Brent 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1971–12–31 Oregon State
G 25 Benjamin, Corey 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1978–02–24 Oregon State
F 44 Bennett, Mario 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1973–08–01 Arizona State
F 22 Booth, Keith 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 226 lb (103 kg) 1974–10–09 Maryland
G 1 Brown, Randy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 New Mexico State
F/C 2 Bryant, Mark 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall
G 21 Carr, Cory 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1975–12–05 Texas Tech
F 18 Dávid, Kornél 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1971–10–22 Hungary
G/F 9 Harper, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1964–01–20 Miami (OH)
G 11 Jones, Charles 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1975–07–17 Long Island
F 7 Kukoc, Toni 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1968–09–18 Croatia
C 28 Lang, Andrew 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–28 Arkansas
F Sanders, Jeff (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–01–14 Georgia Southern
F/C 8 Simpkins, Dickey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1972–04–06 Providence
C 34 Wennington, Bill 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1963–04–26 St. John's
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  •   Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 16, 1999

Roster Notes

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  • Small forward Jeff Sanders missed the entire season due to injury.

Regular season

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Season standings

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Central DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y-Indiana Pacers3317.66018‍–‍715‍–‍1015–750
x-Atlanta Hawks3119.6202.016‍–‍915‍–‍1015–850
x-Detroit Pistons2921.5804.017‍–‍812‍–‍1313–850
x-Milwaukee Bucks2822.5605.017‍–‍811‍–‍1413–1150
Charlotte Hornets2624.5207.016‍–‍910‍–‍1512–1050
Toronto Raptors2327.46010.014‍–‍119‍–‍169–1450
Cleveland Cavaliers2228.44011.015‍–‍107‍–‍189–1350
Chicago Bulls1337.26020.08‍–‍175‍–‍204–1950
Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1c-Miami Heat *3317.66050
2y-Indiana Pacers *3317.66050
3x-Orlando Magic3317.66050
4x-Atlanta Hawks3119.6202.050
5x-Detroit Pistons2921.5804.050
6x-Philadelphia 76ers2822.5605.050
7x-Milwaukee Bucks2822.5605.050
8x-New York Knicks2723.5406.050
9Charlotte Hornets2624.5207.050
10Toronto Raptors2327.46010.050
11Cleveland Cavaliers2228.44011.050
12Boston Celtics1931.38014.050
13Washington Wizards1832.36015.050
14New Jersey Nets1634.32017.050
15Chicago Bulls1337.26020.050

Record vs. opponents

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1998-99 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA VAN WAS
Atlanta 3–0 3–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 2–2 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 2–1
Boston 0–3 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 3–1
Charlotte 0–3 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Chicago 1–3 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2
Cleveland 1–2 2–2 1–2 3–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 3–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–2 0–1 0–0 1–2
Dallas 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 0–3 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–3 0–3 2–2 1–3 0–3 0–0 0–3 2–1 0–0
Denver 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–4 0–1 3–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–3 0–4 2–2 0–0 1–2 3–1 0–1
Detroit 2–1 3–0 0–3 3–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–4 1–3 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1
Golden State 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 2–2 3–1 0–0 0–3 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–4 4–0 0–0
Houston 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 4–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–0 0–3 4–0 0–0
Indiana 1–2 3–0 2–1 3–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 3–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 3–0
L.A. Clippers 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–3 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–4 0–0 0–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 1–2 0–3 0–3 0–1 1–3 1–3 0–0
L.A. Lakers 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–1 3–0 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 4–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 1–3 2–1 0–0
Miami 3–0 0–3 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–1 3–1 2–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 0–1 0–0 3–0
Milwaukee 2–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 1–2 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
Minnesota 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–3 3–1 2–2 2–1 0–1 0–3 3–1 0–0
New Jersey 2–1 2–1 0–3 1–2 0–3 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–3 0–1 0–0 1–3 1–2 0–0 0–3 0–3 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
New York 1–2 2–1 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 1–0 0–1 2–2 1–2 1–0 3–0 0–3 3–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Orlando 2–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–1
Philadelphia 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 3–1 0–0 0–0 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1 1–3 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2
Phoenix 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 3–1 3–0 0–1 2–1 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–3 0–3 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0
Portland 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–0 0–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 2–2 1–2 1–0 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 3–0 4–0 1–3 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 0–0
Sacramento 0–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 3–0 0–0 2–1 0–3 0–0 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 1–0 0–1 0–1 3–0 0–4 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–2 4–0 1–0
San Antonio 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 3–1 4–0 1–0 3–0 3–0 0–0 3–0 1–2 0–0 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–1 2–1 3–0 0–0
Seattle 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 3–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–3 2–2 2–2 1–2 0–0 2–2 2–1 0–1
Toronto 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–2 0–0 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–3 1–3 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 2–2
Utah 0–0 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–1 0–1 4–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 0–0 3–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–2 0–0 3–0 1–0
Vancouver 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–3 0–0 0–3 0–4 0–1 3–1 1–2 0–0 0–0 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–3 0–3 0–4 0–3 1–2 0–1 0–3 0–0
Washington 1–2 1–3 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–1 0–0 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–2 0–1 0–0

Player statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Brent Barry 37 30 31.9 .396 .302 .772 3.9 3.1 1.1 .3 11.1
Corey Benjamin 31 1 10.3 .376 .214 .675 1.3 .3 .4 .3 3.8
Mario Bennett 3 0 6.3 .333 .750 1.7 .0 .3 .0 2.3
Keith Booth 39 4 11.1 .325 .100 .500 2.4 1.0 .6 .3 3.1
Randy Brown 39 32 29.2 .414 .000 .757 3.4 3.8 1.7 .2 8.8
Mark Bryant 45 29 26.8 .483 .000 .645 5.2 1.1 .8 .4 9.0
Cory Carr 42 7 14.9 .329 .167 .750 1.2 1.6 .5 .2 4.1
Kornél Dávid 50 6 18.0 .449 .000 .811 3.5 .8 .5 .3 6.2
Ron Harper 35 35 31.6 .377 .318 .703 5.1 3.3 1.7 1.0 11.2
Charles Jones 29 5 16.4 .317 .311 .500 1.4 1.4 .6 .2 3.7
Toni Kukoč 44 44 37.6 .420 .285 .740 7.0 5.3 1.1 .3 18.8
Andrew Lang 21 13 18.4 .323 .696 4.4 .6 .2 .6 3.8
Rusty LaRue 43 6 17.0 .359 .337 1.000 1.3 1.5 .8 .1 4.7
Dickey Simpkins 50 35 29.0 .463 .000 .645 6.8 1.3 .7 .3 9.1
Bill Wennington 38 3 11.9 .348 1.000 .818 2.1 .5 .3 .3 3.8

Awards and records

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In a home game against the Miami Heat on April 10, the Bulls scored 49 points, the fewest by any team since the shot clock was introduced in 1954.[31]

Transactions

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Overview

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Players Added

Via draft

Via trade

Via free agency

Players Lost

Via trade

Via free agency

retirement

References

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  1. ^ "1998-99 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Wise, Mike (June 30, 1998). "BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "NBA Lockout Begins". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. June 30, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Bembry, Jerry (June 30, 1998). "Billion-Dollar Question: NBA Facing Long Timeout? Rising Salaries Spur Basketball Owners to Lock Out Players". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Steele, David (June 30, 1998). "NBA Lockout Now a Certainty". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. December 8, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  8. ^ Wise, Mike (December 9, 1998). "PRO BASKETBALL; It's Official: N.B.A. Cancels Its All-Star Game". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Heisler, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Dunks All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Asher, Mark (December 9, 1998). "NBA Cancels All-Star Game". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  11. ^ Steele, David (December 9, 1998). "NBA Drops All-Stars -- What's Left?; February Game in Philly Latest Casualty of Lockout". SFGate. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "NBA: Let The Games Begin!". CBS News. CBS News.com Staff. January 6, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Wise, Mike (January 7, 1999). "With Little Time on Clock, NBA and Players Settle". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Heisler, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA, Players Union Agree to End Lockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Justice, Richard; Asher, Mark (January 7, 1999). "NBA Labor Dispute Ends After 6 Months". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Bembry, Jerry (January 7, 1999). "Just Beating Buzzer, NBA Unlocks Season; With Only Day Left to Make Deal, Owners, Players Union Agree". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Broussard, Chris (January 20, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; Ruining of Bulls Begins in Earnest". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  18. ^ Heisler, Mark (July 23, 1998). "Bulls Are Set to Hire Floyd". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Heath, Thomas (July 23, 1998). "Bulls Set to Hire Floyd, Question is: To Do What?". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "BASKETBALL; Floyd Is Hired, But Bulls Still Court Jackson". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 24, 1998. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  21. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Chicago Acquires Brent Barry". The New York Times. January 26, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "Brent Barry Signs with Bulls". The Washington Post. January 26, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  23. ^ Smith, Sam (January 26, 1999). "This Signing Just What Bulls Needed". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Wise, Mike (February 4, 1999). "PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  25. ^ Armour, Terry (February 8, 1999). "Result Raises Eyebrows--and Some Hope". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Carney, Brian (February 19, 1999). "Chicago's Temperature Is Minus 23". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  27. ^ "1998–99 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  28. ^ "Chicago Bulls – Sports Ecyclopedia". Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "1998–99 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  30. ^ "N.B.A.: ROUNDUP; In Chicago, a Record for Futility". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 11, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Bulls Reach a New Low by Scoring 49 Points in Loss". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 11, 1999. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  32. ^ Armour, Terry (April 11, 1999). "49!". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  33. ^ Armour, Terrence E. (April 12, 1999). "A Night After 49, Bulls Try to Forget". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "Bulls Send Barry to Sonics". CBS News. Associated Press. August 12, 1999. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  35. ^ "N.B.A.: Notebook". The New York Times. Associated Press. August 13, 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  36. ^ Smith, Sam (August 13, 1999). "Bulls Get Some Cap Room". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Kawakami, Tim (September 22, 1999). "Lakers Trade Harper--to Get Harper?: Pro Basketball: Derek Harper's Departure Clears Cap Room for Ron Harper". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  38. ^ "Harper Signs with Lakers". CBS News. Associated Press. October 13, 1999. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  39. ^ "Ron Harper Signs with Lakers". Associated Press. October 13, 1999. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  40. ^ Wise, Mike (October 31, 1999). "1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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