Deadines and Commitments - LXXVII

It's been a while since we've updated Deadlines and Commitments, since the trade deadline actually. While the team and coaching staff pushe for the playoffs, the front office prepares for the draft and other development-related deadlines. Scouts as well as Billy King and Bobby Marks have been traveling around the country (and international scout Danko Cvjeticanin has been scouring Europe) looking for prospects.

The Nets are also likely to sign a prospect next month. That way, they can acquire a prospect's rights for the rest of this year and next. Between now and then, expect to see teams jockey for advantage by having their D-League affiliates acquire top D-Leaguers. Nets have already done that by trading for Kris Joseph and other teams are doing the same. That way, teams' D-League staff cab appraise a player before the parent club makes its decision.

And for the first time in a long time, we include the dates for the start of each round of the playoffs!

March 8 - D-League trade deadline. Last opportunity for D-League teams to acquire players both for a playoff run and/or for parent teams to take a look at players who could be signed to NBA contracts in April or invited to summer league and training camp. In past two days, the Armor traded for D-League Rookie of the Year Edwin Ubiles; Rockets affiliate traded for D.J. Kennedy and the Celtics affiliate acquired Josh Selby.

March 15 - Two trade exceptions --$1.38 million and $1.3 million-- from the Gerald Wallace trade expire. With the trade deadline past, the only value they have is claiming a low paid player off waivers. However, it the Nets did that, the player would be ineligible for the playoffs.

April 6 - Springfield Armor season ends. With no playoffs, Armor players can be called up without any penalty for the owners.

April 8 - Players called up or signed after this date can be signed for the rest of the year, rather than for 10 days. Anyone called up now can be extended through next season using vets minimum contract. Ideal way to acquire (non-Bird) rights to prospects.

April 10-13 -- Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Portsmouth, VA). The pre-draft season starts now. Seniors from around the country gather in the Virginia Tidewater to show their stuff to NBA scouts, who often include GM's.

April 18 -- Deadline for playoff rosters must be set. Players not on NBA rosters on March 1 can be added to roster up to this date.

April 20 -- 2013 NBA Playoffs begin. Yes!

May 6 - Kris vs. Kim divorce trial scheduled for Los Angeles court. Humphries does not have to attend and has said if the Nets are playing, he will miss the trial, which is only expected to last 2-3 days.

May 7 - Second round of playoffs begin

May 15-19 - Chicago Pre-Draft Camp. Four days of measurements, drills and interviews.

May 21 - 2013 NBA Draft Lottery.

May 22 - Conference Finals begin

May TBA - Brooklyn Nets Group Workout

May TBA - Minnesota Group Workout

June 6 - Finals begin (possible move-up to June 4)

June 8-10 - Adidas EuroCamp, Treviso, Italy. The leading pre-draft combine for overseas players. Nets liked what they saw from Toko Shengelia here last year.

June 27 -- NBA Draft. Nets have their own first round pick, but no second round pick. Last year, the Nets used $2.75 million of their $3 million cash limit to buy second round picks used to acquire Tyshawn Taylor and Shengelia. If they don't use the $3 million on Draft Night, they lose it three days later.

June 30 -- Presumably, C.J. Watson will have decided on his player option for 2013-14 by this date. If he opts in, he will be paid $1.1 million. Contracts for Billy King, Bobby Marks, P.J. Carlesimo, coaching staff all expire.

July 1 -- Andray Blatche, Jerry Stackhouse and Keith Bogans become unrestricted free agents.

July 7-13 - Orlando Summer League