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The NBA’s free agency period typically begins at the end of June or the beginning of July.
COVID-19, as it has done with most associations and businesses, has bumped everything back. Free agency and the NBA Draft happened quickly within the last few months of 2020. Now, we’ll be returning to some form of normalcy.
The NBA seems to be indicating that they’ll return to more of the schedule they had before COVID instead of creating a Christmas Day start.
That said, the news of the August 2 free agency commencement was first released by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
NBA 2021 Free Agency will start on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. ET, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Moratorium period will begin at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 3 and will continue through Aug. 6.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 19, 2021
Many big-name Wildcats will not quite be able to choose their next team. Players like Anthony Davis, Julius Randle, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will still be under contract. Even Rajon Rondo is even locked up for another season.
DeMarcus Cousins will be one name to keep an eye on, but given his injury history, he won’t provide much breaking news regardless of where he heads next.
That said, with big-time players like Kawhi Leonard possibly hitting the market, it could be an interesting time in the NBA.
Expect some movement, but I think the household names will likely stay put.