After so much anticipation, it’s finally here: 2018 NBA free agency is underway.
It’s officially July 1 (on the east coast, at least), which means the moratorium has been lifted, and free agency has started in earnest.
While there have been lots of rumors and reports (such as the Golden State Warriors being interested in DeAndre Jordan), teams have not been allowed to have contact with free agents. That ends now, as teams and players and agents can talk and come to agreements.
While teams and players can open up communication, most contracts cannot be signed yet. Starting today, teams can sign rookie-scale contracts, minimum contracts, and two-way contracts. Restricted free agents are also eligible to sign offer sheets.
The rest has to wait until Friday, July 6. At that point, all free agents can sign, players under contract can be extended or traded, and the two-day matching period begins for restricted free agents who signed offer sheets.
There are, of course, a million storylines. Where will LeBron James decide to sign? What happens with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard? Will the Warriors use their mid-level exception? Which players will take pay cuts to join a winning team, and which winning team will they choose? How will the salary cap influence signings?
NBA has informed teams of 2018-19 season salary cap and tax: New salary cap: $101.8M; Luxury Tax: $123M. Non-Tax Mid-level: $8.6M; Tax-payers mid-level: $5.3M; Room Mid-Level: $4.4M. Bi-annual: $3.4M
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2018
The NBA season may be over, but the most exciting time for the league is just beginning.
Poll
Where do you think LeBron James signs?
This poll is closed
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15%
Cleveland Cavaliers
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58%
Los Angeles Lakers
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12%
Philadelphia 76ers
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2%
Houston Rockets
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0%
Boston Celtics
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0%
San Antonio Spurs
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8%
Golden State Warriors
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1%
Other