Key Dates and Deadlines for the 2026 NBA Offseason
nba-2026-offseason-key-dates
The NBA has published its full offseason timetable, mapping out every major deadline from early-entry draft declarations to the opening of 2026-27 training camps. The calendar takes effect now that the 2025-26 regular season has ended and nearly half the league has shifted to offseason mode.
April
April 24: Final day for college and international prospects to file as early entrants for the 2026 NBA Draft (10:59 p.m. CT).
May
May 8–10: NBA G League Combine in Chicago.
May 10: NBA Draft Lottery.
May 10–17: NBA Draft Combine.
May 27: Deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the draft and keep NCAA eligibility (10:59 p.m. CT).
June
June 3: NBA Finals begin.
June 13: Final withdrawal date for all early entrants, including international players (4:00 p.m. CT).
June 19: Latest possible date for the NBA Finals to conclude.
TBD (first day after the NBA Finals end): Teams may start negotiating with their own free agents.
June 23: Round 1 of the NBA Draft.
June 24: Round 2 of the NBA Draft.
June 29: Last day for player, team and early-termination option decisions; deadline to extend qualifying offers to restricted-free-agent candidates.
June 30: Last day of the 2025-26 league year; cutoff for veteran extensions; clubs may open negotiations with free agents from other teams (5:00 p.m. CT).
July
July 1: First day of the 2026-27 league year; moratorium period begins. Teams can sign one- or two-year minimum deals, two-way contracts, rookie-scale agreements for first-rounders, and second-round-pick exception contracts. Restricted free agents may sign offer sheets, and teams can exercise 2027-28 rookie-scale team options.
July 4–7: Salt Lake City Summer League.
July 6: Moratorium ends at 11:01 a.m. CT, allowing official signings, extensions and trades. The 24-hour clock to match any restricted-free-agent offer sheets signed during the moratorium also starts.
July 9–19: Las Vegas Summer League.
July 13: Final day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.
July 31: Players signed via the second-round pick exception start counting against the salary cap.
August
August 5: Deadline to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks.
August 29: Last day to waive a player and apply the stretch provision to 2026-27 salary.
September
Late September (dates TBA): Training camps open for the 2026-27 season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
