Key Upcoming Dates in NBA Offseason 2024
The NBA offseason has started, and it’s going to be exciting for both the players and the fans
The schedule is packed with set dates and timelines that will affect the player’s transfers and the whole team.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most important dates for the offseason and what the experts claim about the team’s chances for those events. Some of these are unique for this offseason, and others are traditions for which the teams have been preparing.
Making Bets
The anonymous betting sites have prepared the odds for this year’s offseason events. Betting sites allowing crypto payments and players to make wagers without providing personal data have gained popularity in recent years.
The odds for the NBA Cup are widely available at this point, but the odds for the Canada series and Mexico City Game are not. The odds of winning the Cup are as follows:
Boston Celtics +450
Oklahoma City Thunder +750
Milwaukee Bucks +850
New York Knicks +1000
The odds for the Moneyline bet on the All-Stars Game is -122 on the LA Lakers.
Free Agency
The free agency moratorium starts on July 1st. The transfers can begin during this time, and the first-draft players can sign minimum contracts. Players can sign minimum contracts (two years or less), and teams can also extend offer sheets to restricted free agents. At the same time, fourth-year rookie options can be exercised, and two-way contracts can be signed and converted.
On July 6th, free agency starts at noon, and the teams can make trades official. Veteran contracts can also be extended. This period will change the season and the teams and affect the games’ potential outcome.
October 6th and November 2th
The National Basketball Association announced that the 10th edition of The NBA Canada Series presented by Bell will feature a preseason game between the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards at the Bell Centre in Montréal, QC, on October 6th, 2024.
The NBA Mexico City Game 2024 will feature the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards playing a regular-season game hosted by Zignia Live at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Saturday, November 2nd.
The only other game played outside the country will be the NBA Paris Games.
NBA Cup on November 12th
NBA Cup is also known as the Emirates NBA Cup because of sponsorship. All 30 teams participate, each playing four regular season games that count towards the tournament’s group stage standings. The semifinals and finals will be played in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Lakers are defending the title.
The LA Lakers are also among the favorites to win this year, but so are the Denver Nuggets, given how strong the performance was throughout the season and with Nikola Jokic’s amazing performance. With Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge, the Milwaukee Bucks are also a strong contender.
End of the Trade Deadline, February 6th
The end of the trade deadline is always in February, a bit before the All-Star Game. It’s one of the key dates of the offseason since it marks the moment the teams can no longer trade players. Once the trade ends, the teams are stuck with their rosters, and the odds for the upcoming games will change once again.
The deadline will see a lot of frantic activities as it’s the last chance for the teams to boost their rosters. It’s important to note that sometimes the best draft picks come at the end without anyone expecting them – that was the case for Jokic and the Nuggets.
All-Star Dates 14th to 19th February
The NBA All-Star Weekend will take place from February 14th to 19th, 2024. This annual event features various festivities, including the Rising Stars Challenge, the Skills Challenge, the Three-Point Contest, and the Slam Dunk Contest.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will captain the Western and Eastern Conference teams. Notably, LeBron is making his record 20th All-Star appearance, while Giannis leads the East after overtaking LeBron in fan votes. The All-Star Game will return to the classic East vs. West format, showcasing top players like Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard.
To Sum Up
The NBA offseason for 2024 is packed with key dates and events. Free agency begins on July 1st, with teams able to make trades official starting July 6th. The NBA Cup kicks off on November 12th, featuring all 30 teams, with the semifinals and finals in Las Vegas.
International games include the Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards in Montreal on October 6th and Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards in Mexico City on November 2nd. The trade deadline is February 6th, just before the All-Star Weekend from February 14th to 19th, where LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will captain the teams.