Seattle Sent Jim McIlvaine to New Jersey for Two Veterans
On January 21, 1999, Seattle traded center Jim McIlvaine to New Jersey for Michael Cage and Don MacLean. The clubs faced an unusual short NBA calendar: the 1998-99 lockout reduced the regular season to 50 games, and the trade was recorded just before play resumed in February. McIlvaine was a defensive-minded seven-footer whose expensive Seattle contract had drawn attention since his arrival in 1996. New Jersey wanted another shot blocker near the rim, while Seattle used two less prominent veterans to change its depth and financial commitments. The Nets gave up two distinct players, not a conditional pick; the salary and fit context is important to understanding why Seattle wanted to move McIlvaine.
McIlvaine Offered Brief Rim Protection to the Nets
McIlvaine played 22 New Jersey games in 1998-99, starting only once and averaging about twelve minutes per game. He blocked shots at a respectable rate for his limited court time but scored only a few points per appearance. That was a relatively small realized return from a center who had previously been paid to protect the paint as a Seattle starter. New Jersey’s C grade recognizes some defensive availability without overvaluing the original contract. His playing time did not transform a Nets club that finished the short season 16-34. The long-term return for New Jersey was constrained both by his limited role and by the club’s subsequent attempts to manage its frontcourt.
Seattle Regained Flexibility but Not a New Star
Cage was an experienced rebounder near the end of his career, and MacLean was a veteran forward who could offer spot scoring. Neither replaced McIlvaine with a permanent starter. Their value to Seattle came from alternative roster construction and reduced commitment to a single expensive reserve center. The SuperSonics’ C+ grade represents a small relative edge from that flexibility, rather than a claim that either incoming player reproduced the team’s earlier high-level center production. The deal also did not produce a new Seattle draft pick, so the final assessment should not import the results of later selections or unrelated trades. Both returns remained limited in basketball terms.
Final Verdict
Slight Oklahoma City Thunder Edge. The Seattle franchise earns C+ for moving Jim McIlvaine and obtaining Michael Cage and Don MacLean with more roster flexibility. New Jersey receives C for 22 games of limited McIlvaine center minutes. Neither side added a long-term leading player.