when does nba free agency open

NBA free agency opens at 6:00 p.m. ET on June 30. Teams can start negotiating then, but players generally can’t officially sign until the league’s moratorium lifts on July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.

Quick Scoop

• Negotiation window: June 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

• Signing window: July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET.

• Reported agreements can circulate before then, but they aren’t official until the signing period opens.

What that means

In practice, the first big wave of free-agency news starts the moment the negotiating window opens, so that’s the real “open” date most fans mean.