2024 Free Agency

5 things to know entering 2024 NBA offseason

From the details of free agency through Summer League and the Olympics, get ready for an action-packed NBA offseason.

Brian Martin, for NBA.com

Clippers stars James Harden and Paul George are part of a star-studded free agency class.

The Boston Celtics are champions and the NBA Draft is complete, which means the offseason has officially arrived. But we all know the game doesn’t stop. From free agency, potential trades and more, we’re in for a busy summer around the league. With that, here are five things to know entering the 2024 NBA offseason:

1. Free agency 

Paul George, LeBron James, James Harden and Klay Thompson lead a star-studded list of free agents available this summer as teams look to shake up their rosters.

Key dates to know:

  • June 18: Teams permitted to negotiate with their own free agents
  • June 30: NBA teams may begin negotiating with all other free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET)
  • July 6: NBA teams may begin signing free agents to contracts (12:01 p.m. ET)

New rule: With teams able to negotiate with their own free agents one day after the Finals, a number of deals have already been agreed upon. Keep in mind all deals are “reported” until they can become official on or after July 6.

  • Early deals: Malik Monk staying in Sacramento, Pascal Siakam sticking in Indy and OG Anunoby returning to New York, all on multi-year deals

How does free agency work? Learn about the entire free agent process, including key terminology, free agent types, contract options and salary cap exceptions. Plus, dive deeper with positional breakdowns of the top players available.

2. Trades

We break down how Mikal Bridges can have a massive impact on the Knicks.

If teams aren’t able to secure the players they need through the draft or free agency, the trade route is another option to bring in new talent.

Unlike free agency, there is no moratorium on trades, so deals featuring players under contract and/or future draft picks can be struck at any time. A few went down in the days leading up to and during the 2024 NBA Draft.

3. Summer League

After the dust settles on the first two-day NBA Draft in league history, the draftees will join free agents, two-way players and some rising NBA second-year players in Summer League action.

Key dates to know

The NBA 2K25 Summer League 2024 marks the 20th year of the annual summer showcase in Las Vegas. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Adam Silver and more share their memories of the event in NBA TV’s latest Basketball Stories: 20 Years of Las Vegas Summer League. 

4. Paris Olympics

The USA Basketball Men’s National Team will be in Las Vegas to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games as Team USA goes for a fifth straight gold medal. 

In addition to training camp, the USA Basketball showcase will feature five exhibition games across three countries before the real competition begins in late July: 

  • July 10 in Las Vegas: USA vs. Canada (10:30 ET, FS1)
  • July 15 in Abu Dhabi: USA vs. Australia (Noon ET, FS1)
  • July 17 in Abu Dhabi: USA vs. Serbia (Noon ET, FS1)
  • July 20 in London: USA vs. South Sudan (3 ET, FOX)
  • July 22 in London: USA vs. Germany (3 ET, FOX)

After the final exhibition game in London, Team USA will convene with the rest of the basketball world in Paris for a 2024 Olympic tournament stacked with NBA talent.

  • United States: Bam Adebayo (Heat), Devin Booker (Suns), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Anthony Davis (Lakers), Kevin Durant (Suns), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Celtics), LeBron James (Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Celtics).
  • Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Jamal Murray (Nuggets) lead a Canadian squad loaded with current and former NBA players.
  • France: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) and Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves) anchor the host team that took silver in Tokyo in 2021
  • Germany: Dennis Schroder (Nets) and the Wagner brothers (Magic) lead a German squad coming off its first FIBA World Cup win in 2023.
  • Serbia: Three-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (Hawks) lead the 2016 silver medalists.
  • Teams in qualifying tournaments: Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic) and more teams are still looking to earn a spot in the Olympic tournament.

5. WNBA season in full swing

The Minnesota Lynx took home the 2024 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Trophy on Wednesday.

Rookie phenoms Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have made an immediate splash in the WNBA. The college rivals have met three times in 2024 and have drawn record viewership numbers each time. 

  • Angel Reese (Chicago Sky): Recorded her ninth straight double-double on Thursday, tying Candace Parker for the most consecutive double-double streak in a single season in league history. 
  • Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever): Leads the WNBA with 54 made 3-pointers entering play on Friday.

The New York Liberty (15-3) are off to their best start in franchise history as they look to get back to the Finals and win that elusive first title.

  • Commissioner’s Cup: The Liberty were unable to successfully defend their WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship, falling to the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday.

Three more teams to watch as the season nears its midpoint:

  • Connecticut Sun (14-3): Snapped a two-game slide to remain on the Liberty’s heels for the best record in the league.
  • Seattle Storm (11-6): Matched their win total from all of last season (11-29) in just 17 games following the offseason additions of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike.
  • Las Vegas Aces (9-6): After going .500 through 12 games, the defending champs are 3-0 since Chelsea Gray returned from injury last week. 

The 2024 WNBA All-Star game will take place in Phoenix on July 20. The game will be Team USA vs. Team WNBA in order to help prepare the US Women’s National Team for the Paris Olympics as the team goes for an eighth straight gold medal. 

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