Deadlines and Commitments - IX

It's the calm before the storm...or maybe not. It may continue to be crazy with no let-up!  Next Thursday is opening day for the long-awaited free agency season.  Before that, expect to see a number of trades as teams try to get deeper under the cap.  The Nets have until Wednesday to trade Keyon Dooling's contract or buy him out at $500,000.  Kris Humphries'  decision time is also Wednesday ...and it will be the last day of work for a number of people, including Kiki Vandeweghe. Then, Wednesday night, expect a fully fueled Gulfstream G550 to fly to some location in the US.

June 29 - Derrick Favors and Damion James are introduced at Nets Press Conference, PNY Center

June 29-30 -- Nets must exercise team options for Keyon Dooling ($3.82 million with a $500,000 buyout). Also, the  last day for Dooling's contract can be traded.  Kris Humphries must exercise his player option ($3.2 million). Contracts for Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe as well as the rest of the Nets' coaching staff expire. Of front office and coaching staffs, only Bobby Marks, Thorn's VP of basketball operations, has a contract beyond June 30.

June 30 - Nets Summer League Team begins practices in New Jersey. Among those who've accepted invitations: Brian Zoubek, Duke's 7'1" C, and Wayne Chism, Tulsa's 6'9" PF. Favors, James and Terrence WIlliams are all expected to play for the Nets.

June 30 - Deadline for last two businesses to leave the larger Atlantic Yards footprint. One of the buildings in question will be used as office space for construction operations.

July 1 - NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents. Expect reports of signings almost immediately. Nets can renounce cap holds for players with expiring contracts. Mikhail Prokhorov won't say where he will be that night, but admits it won't be Moscow.

July 5-9 - AirTran Airways Summer League at the Orlando Magic practice facility.  The Nets summer league entry will play five games in five days, starting at 1 p.m. on July 5 vs. the 76ers...the Draft's #3 pick vs. the #2 pick. All games will be televised on NBA TV.

July 8 - NBA teams can officially begin signing free agents.

July 19-24 - Team USA training camp in Las Vegas.  Brook Lopez one of 31 players invited.

August 12-15 - World Basketball Festival at various locations in New York City.  The National Teams of USA, China (Yi Jianlian), Brazil, France and Puerto Rico will participate with USA and France squaring off in a Garden exhibition game on August 15.

August 28-September 12 - FIBA World Championships in Turkey.