Now. it really counts. Decisions on free agency will come quickly. The next three weeks could easily determine the Nets future for years and years. So here ya go.
June 24 - NBA Awards Show — Everything from MVP to All-Rookie Team. D’Angelo Russell is a finalist for Most Improved Player. Sean Marks has a shot at Executive of the Year although if the voting had taken place this week, Masai Ujiri would win in a landslide.
— Nets introduce their two new rookies, Nic Claxton and Jaylen Hands, at an HSS Training Center press conference.
June 29 — Qualifying offer deadline for D’Angelo Russell. By making qualifying offer, the Nets can hold on to his rights, making them restricted free agents. Caphold is $21.1 million for DLo.
June 30 — Contracts for DeMarre Carroll ($15.4 million), Jared Dudley ($9.5 million) and Ed Davis ($4.4 million) expire, as does Theo Pinson (RFA). Nets payroll commitments to Dwight Howard ($18.9 million) and Kenneth Faried ($13.3 million) end. Nets still owe one more year of stretch payments ($5.5 million) to Deron Williams.
June 30, 6:00 pm — NBA Free Agency begins. Negotiations are not supposed to begin until now, but some signings get announced immediately. So what’s with that? Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet starting now as well, but 48-hour matching period doesn’t start till July 6. Will Nets get visits from all the top free agents? Will they be able to sign the big free agents, starting with Kyrie Irving? Will they sign D’Angelo Russell and get that out of the way too or shoot for bigger stars to play alongside Kyrie?
July 1 — Teams can also extend players on rookie contracts. In the Nets case, that means they can lock up Caris LeVert and Taurean Prince to a long-term contract starting in the 2020-21 season. The Nets have until October 21 to make up their minds on the two players. Otherwise, they become restricted free agents in July 2020.
July 5-July 15 — NBA Summer League, Las Vegas. All 30 teams will be represented as will the Chinese and Croatian national teams. Nets open against the Mavericks on July 5 at 7 p.m. ET. Jarrett Allen has said he plans on playing. So have Rodions Kurucs and Dzanan Musa, both of whom missed last year’s league because of contract issues. The biggest signing of several undrafted players so far: C.J. Massinburg, a 6’3” point guard from U. of Buffalo. One question: will Brooklyn bring in any of their three stashes — Isaia Cordinier (France); Aleksandar Vezenkov (Bulgaria) or Juan Vaulet (Argentina)? Cordinier posted video of him on Instagram on Friday. Both Cordinier and Vezeknov worked out with the Nets in Madrid in early June.
July 6 — July moratorium ends (12 noon ET). Teams can begin officially signing players, extending players, and completing trades. The Nets could have enough for at least one, maybe two, max players, depending on what they do at the deadline among other things. The Allen Crabbe-for-Taurean Prince trade can’t become official until now.
—The 48-hour moratorium begins on offer sheets signed by restricted free agents.
July 10 - Team option deadline for Shabazz Napier ($1.8 million). Options can be declined earlier that the deadline, but the late deadline affords the Nets an opportunity of wait-and- see whether they’ll need to move money for big free agents.
July 15 - Most of the big free agents are signed by the middle of July, although vet minimum deal and two-ways can extend into August. Last season, two-way Alan Williams wasn’t signed until mid-September.
July 27 - WNBA All-Star Game, Las Vegas
August 6 - WNBA Trade Deadline
August 11 - Liberty return to Barclays Center for their only regular season game in Brooklyn vs. the Seattle Storm.
August 31-September 15 - FIBA World Cup, China. No word on who might be playing or not playing for their national teams among Nets players, stashes — or future picks. Latvia (Rodions Kurucs) and Bosnia (Dzanan Musa) didn’t qualify so they won’t be participating. Will Weaver, the former Long Island head coach, is an assistant coach for the Australian national team.
September 8 - Last day of WNBA regular season.
September 11 - WNBA playoffs begin.
September 27 — Training camp opens. Teams (like the Nets) who play preseason games overseas get a head start over the other clubs who open their camps three days later.
October 4 - Nets host Basquete Franca of Brazil in what is likely the first preseason game.
October 8 - Last possible date for WNBA Finals
October 10-12 — Nets and Lakers travel to China for the NBA China Games where they’ll play two games vs. the Lakers in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
October 21 - Last day the Nets can extend Caris LeVert or Taurean Prince to a rookie extension.