Special Olympics Edition! Starting Friday night, the world will be watching the Rio Olympics and two Nets players --and two staffers-- will be on hand in Brazil. All the mens' basketball games will be broadcast either on TV or online. We'll trying to find out where in advance.
August 5 - 21 -- Rio Olympics. Bojan Bogdanovic plays for Croatia, Luis Scola for Argentina. Will Weaver, Kenny Atkinson's special assistant, is an assistant coach for Team Australia and Nets medical director Dr. Riley J. Williams is Team USA's team doctor again. Sean Marks said two weeks ago that he expects to attend.
August 5 -- The Parade of Nations. Teams enter the Olympic Stadium in alphabetical order, led by a flag-bearer. Luis Scola will be carrying the Argentine flag.
August 7 -- Croatia, with Bogdanovic, plays Spain at 6 p.m.. Argentina, with Scola, plays Nigeria.at 9:30 p.m.
August 9 -- It's the only all-Nets game of the preliminary round. Croatia and Argentina tip off at 9:30 p.m. .
August 11 -- Croatia plays Brazil at 1:15 p.m. Argentina plays Lithuania at 9:30 p.m.
August 13 -- Argentina plays Brazil at 1:15 p.m. Croatia plays Nigeria at 9:30 p.m.
August 14 -- D-League National Tryouts at Basketball City in New York. Players from around the country gather to see if they can get a D-League contract. Normally, about 30 of the 220 entrants find their way onto a D-League roster. Most recent tryout alumni to get an NBA contract: Jonathon Simmons of the Spurs. Registration is $350.
August 15 -- Argentina plays Spain at 6 p.m. Croatia plays Lithuania at 9:30 p.m.
August 17 -- Medal round begins. Croatia, Argentina and Team USA should all make the next round.
August 24 -- D-League expansion draft. Next season, the Greenboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets affiliate), Windy City Bulls (Chicago Bulls affiliate), and Long Island Nets (Brooklyn Nets affiliate) will debut in the D-League. The D-League's 19 current teams can protect 10 players each on their rosters. Don't expect any stars to be drafted. Last year, only one player taken in the expansion draft made the Raptors 905 roster.
August 29 - September 2 -- Third annual Brooklyn Nets Hamptons Basketball Camp Powered by DRIBBL. Kenny Atkinson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert will be on hand. Southampton Town Recreation Center, 1370A Majors Path in Southampton.
August 31 -- Stretch payment deadline. If the Nets wanted to stretch a player or a player's contract, like Jarrett Jack's $500,000 buyout, they must do it by this date. Doubt that happens.
August 31 - September 17 -- FIBA Europe Qualifying Round will play out at various venues. European national teams who didn't make the Olympics or the Olympic qualifying round must compete for places in the FIBA Eurobasket in 2017. New assistant coach Chris Fleming is head coach of German national team so expect him to be over there.
Early September - Long Island Nets expected to hold their own local tryouts, likely in Brooklyn.
September 10 -- If the Nets don't sign Juan Pablo Vaulet, they must extend him non-guarantee tender by this date or lose his rights and make him an unrestricted free agent. It's highly likely they will retain his rights.
October 1 -- Tentative opening of training camps around the league. Media day usually occurs day before.
October 6 -- Nets vs. Pistons in preseason game at Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.
October 8 -- Nets at Knicks in preseason game at Madison Square Garden, 7:30 p.m.
October 11 -- Nets at Heat in preseason game at American Airlines Arena, 7:30 p.m.
October 13 -- Nets vs. Celtics in preseason game at Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.
October 17 -- Nets at Celtics in preseason game at TD Garden, 7:30 p.m.
October 20 -- Nets vs. Knicks in preseason game at Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.
October 31 -- Regular season begins around now. Schedule should be out next week to 10 days.
Early November - D-League draft. This is a conference call affair, nothing like the big league's extravaganza. The L.I. Nets will have picks.
Mid-November - Long Island Nets open their first season in Barclays Center. Expect it to be a double-header with the Brooklyn Nets.