Key 2021 NBA Preseason Dates, Deadlines

The most notable dates of the 2021 NBA offseason are behind us now that we’re well clear of the draft and the free agent period. However, there are still a number of dates and deadlines to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months before teams take the court for the 2021/22 regular season.

Here’s the breakdown:


September 27:

  • NBA media day. With teams and players reporting to training camp, many coaches and general managers will speak to reporters on this date for the first time in months.

September 28:

  • Training camps begin.

October 3:

  • Preseason begins.

October 15:

  • Preseason ends.

October 16:

  • Last day for players on fully non-guaranteed contracts to be waived and not count at all against a team’s 2021/22 cap. They must clear waivers before the first day of the regular season.

October 18:

  • Last day of the 2021 offseason.
  • Roster limits decrease from 20 players to 17 (4:00pm CT). Teams will be limited to carrying 15 players on standard contracts and two on two-way deals as of this deadline.
  • Last day for teams to sign a player to a rookie scale extension (5:00pm CT).
    [RELATED: Players eligible for rookie scale extensions]
  • Last day for teams to sign an extension-eligible veteran player with multiple seasons left on his contract (ie. Harrison Barnes) to an extension. An extension-eligible veteran player on an expiring deal (ie. Zach LaVine) can still be extended after October 18.
  • Last day for teams to complete sign-and-trade deals.
  • Last day for teams to convert an Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way contract.

October 19:

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

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