🔥 Trending NBA Free Agency Start Date and Key Information

The 2026 NBA free agency period officially begins on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET ⁵⁷⁸.

This date marks the start of the negotiating period, where teams can begin discussions and reach agreements with upcoming free agents from other teams ²⁸.

Key Dates for 2026 NBA Free Agency

While negotiations can start on June 30, there's a slight delay before contracts can be officially signed and made binding:

• June 30, 2026 (6 p.m. ET): Teams are permitted to begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents ²⁵⁷. This is often referred to as the "start" of free agency.
• July 6, 2026: Teams can officially begin signing free agents to contracts ²³. This is when deals become finalized and are announced by the league.

What Happens During NBA Free Agency?

During the free agency period, NBA teams aim to improve their rosters by signing players whose contracts have expired or who have opted out of their existing deals. This involves:

• Negotiations: Teams and player agents discuss contract terms, including salary, duration, and various clauses ².
• Agreements: Players and teams verbally agree to terms, though these agreements are not official until July 6 ³.
• Signings: Once the moratorium period ends on July 6, players can officially sign their new contracts, making the deals binding ²³.

Free agency is a critical time for all 30 NBA teams to strategize and make moves that could significantly impact their performance in the upcoming season ¹⁵⁶.