NBA offseason schedule and key dates for 2021-22

The NBA offseason is officially underway. Check out the offseason schedule and key dates for 2021-22 including the draft and free agency.

Now that the Milwaukee Bucks have been crowned as champions for the 2020-21 season, the NBA offseason can get going.

The Bucks can look ahead to a repeat. For the other 29 teams in the league, it’ll be an offseason of wheeling and dealing to make sure they’re the ones wearing the crown next June.

There’s a long road ahead, including the 2021 NBA Draft, a wild free agency period, Summer League action and more.

Here are all the NBA key dates to know for the offseason schedule.

NBA offseason schedule and key dates for 2021-2022

• July 29: 2021 NBA Draft
• Aug. 2: Free agency begins at 6:00 p.m. ET
• Aug. 3: Official start of league year; moratorium period on transactions begins
• Aug. 6: Moratorium period ends at 12:01 a.m. ET
• Aug. 8-17: NBA Las Vegas Summer League
• Sept. 28: Training camp starts
• Oct. 19: Regular season starts
• April 16: Playoffs start
• June 2: Finals Game 1
• June 19: Finals Game 7
• June 23: 2022 NBA Draft

All 30 teams have a chance to add new blood on July 29 during the two rounds of the 2021 NBA Draft. Once that stage has cleared, the full force of NBA free agency will arrive.

Before Aug. 2, player and team options on contracts need to be set. Qualifying offers for restricted free agency have to be submitted.

Then on Aug. 2, teams can begin negotiating with free agents they’re trying to bring to their franchises. That work will be interrupted during the league moratorium period, when moves cannot be completed.

The flood gates will open on Aug. 6 when the moratorium period ends, allowing teams to officially sign, extend and trade players.

The Las Vegas Summer League will return from Aug. 8-17, per Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on dates for the 2021-22 season, including the start of training camp and the regular season. However, those dates have not been officially confirmed.