NBA confirms free agency will begin 6 hours earlier on June 30
Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The NBA is moving the start time of free agency to a more reasonable hour.
The league and the National Basketball Players Association announced on Friday that teams and players will now be permitted to begin free-agent negotiations at 6 p.m. ET on June 30, six hours earlier than the longtime commencement of 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1.
The change was first reported earlier this month.
Under NBA rules, teams will also be allowed to communicate with free agents or their agents beginning at 6 p.m. ET on June 29, solely for the purpose of scheduling a meeting at or after 6 p.m. ET on June 30.
This summer's free-agent class is set to include Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Jimmy Butler.