Key In-Season NBA Dates, Deadlines For 2020/21

The list of important in-season dates and deadlines for 2020/21 may look a little off for hardcore NBA fans.

For instance, you’ve grown accustomed to the fact that teams are permitted to start signing players to 10-day contracts on January 5 during a typical league year, you’ll have to adjust your thinking to accommodate for the league’s revamped ’20/21 schedule. This year, February 23 is the first day that 10-day deals can be signed.

We’re here to help provide the rescheduled dates for those usual in-season deadlines. Here’s a breakdown of the dates, deadlines, and events that will influence player movement for the next several months across the NBA:


December 29

January 25

  • Priority order for waiver claims is now based on 2020/21 record, rather than 2019/20 record (as of March 11). Teams with the worst records receive the highest waiver priority.

January 29

February 6

February 10

  • NBA G League season begins.

February 23

February 24

  • Last day to waive non-guaranteed NBA contracts before they become guaranteed for the rest of the season. Salaries officially guarantee on February 27 if players haven’t cleared waivers before that date.

March 3

March 4

  • First half of NBA regular season ends.

March 5-9

  • NBA All-Star break.

March 6

  • NBA G League regular season ends.

March 8-11

  • NBA G League playoffs.

March 10

  • Second half of NBA regular season begins.

March 15

  • Former first-round picks who were stashed overseas may sign rookie scale NBA contracts for the 2021/22 season.

March 25

  • Trade deadline (2:00pm CT).

April 9

  • Last day for contract renegotiations.
  • Last day a player can be waived by one team and remain eligible to appear in the postseason for another team.
  • Last day for a restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet.

April 19

May 16

  • Last day of the NBA regular season.
  • Last day players can sign contracts for 2020/21
  • Last day two-way contracts can be converted to standard NBA contracts.
  • Luxury tax penalties calculated based on payroll as of this day.

May 18-21

  • Play-in tournament for seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.

May 22

  • NBA playoffs begin.

Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ and NBA.com were used in the creation of this post.

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