With the NBA announcing its plans for the 2021-22 year, teams across the league now have a clear understanding of what the next 12 months will look like. Coming off more than a year of constant disruptions due to COVID-19 and the long suspension of the 2019-20 season, teams and fans are quite happy to finally have a sense of normalcy to the calendar.
For the Rockets, activities will pick up later this month. The draft combine will be significant, since Houston is poised to have three first-round picks in the 2021 draft, no matter what. However, the June 22 draft lottery will determine whether one of those selections is in the top four (a 52.1% chance), or if all are at No. 18 or below (47.9%).
There are also numerous decisions to be made for the Rockets in free agency, starting with the uncertain future of Kelly Olynyk.
Here’s a look at the league’s key dates and milestones over the next 12 months. All dates are in 2021 unless otherwise indicated:
- June 21-27: NBA draft combine
- June 22: NBA draft lottery
- July 23 to Aug. 8: Toyko Olympics (Houston players who could be involved include John Wall, Eric Gordon, and Christian Wood for the United States, and Kelly Olynyk for Canada.)
- July 29: 2021 NBA draft
- Aug. 2: Free agency negotiations can begin at 5:00 p.m. Central
- Aug. 3: Official start of 2021-22 league year; brief moratorium period begins on transactions
- Aug. 6: Moratorium period ends at 11:01 a.m. Central, allowing free agents to be signed and trades to be executed
- Aug. 8-17: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
- Sept. 28: Training camps open
- Oct. 19: Regular season begins
- April 16, 2022: 2021-22 playoffs start
- June 2, 2022: NBA Finals Game 1
- June 19, 2022: NBA Finals Game 7
- June 23, 2022: 2022 NBA draft
Stay tuned to RocketsWire for coverage throughout the 2021 offseason.
