The 1998–99 NBA season was the 76ers 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 36th season in Philadelphia. The Sixers had the eighth pick in the 1998 NBA draft, and selected Larry Hughes out of Saint Louis University. In the off-season, the Sixers signed free agents Matt Geiger, George Lynch, and Harvey Grant, and later on re-signing former 76ers forward Rick Mahorn in late February. At midseason, they traded second-year forward Tim Thomas and Scott Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyrone Hill. In a lockout-shortened season cut to 50 games, the Sixers won six straight games after a 4–5 start, and had their first winning month in five years winning 8 of 13 games in February, on their way to making the playoffs for the first time in eight years with a 28–22 reco