What is likely to be the biggest week of transactions in NBA history officially has a start date. Monday at Noon ET, 9 a.m. Pacific, the NBA will lift the current trade moratorium and allow teams to execute deals, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Teams themselves have been working around the clock over the weekend and now they know then they can start getting serious about deals. With the league office opening for business on Monday, this gives the league a chance to review deals as they normally do. Woj also reports that the salary cap is expected to continue rising slightly amidst the pandemic, thanks to the latest modifications agreed to by the league and the Player’s Association.
Sources: Projected future salary cap and tax. 2021-2022: $112.M and $136.6M; 2022-2023: $115.7M and $140M and 2023-2024: $119.2M and $144.9M
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2020
As for other factors, the Monday start date also puts several other things into alignment. According to the AP’s Tim Reynolds, decisions on players or teams picking up option years must be made by Thursday at 3 p.m. EST.
Most NBA player/team option decisions have to be made Thursday by 3pm ET, source tells AP.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 15, 2020
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, players who are eligible to sign rookie extensions or a Super Max extension, such as Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma (rookie extension) or Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (super max), must do so by Dec. 21, the night before the NBA season begins.
Last day for a player to sign a super max and rookie extension is Dec. 21.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 15, 2020
The NBA has yet to release the schedule for the 2020-21 season, which is expected to be weighted even more heavily by games against teams in the same division.
