Report: NBA to lift trade moratorium Monday

A flurry of NBA roster activity could soon be on the way.

Teams have been informed that the moratorium on league business such as trades will be lifted Monday at noon ET, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The moratorium has been in place since just after the 2019-20 season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic last March.

Trade speculation is already circulating around the league and includes names such as Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, and Jrue Holiday. Several rumors also persist around Wednesday night's draft.

The lifting of the moratorium also allows contract extensions to be signed. The NBA's highest-profile supermax candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo, will have until the eve of the regular season, Dec. 21, to sign that deal with the Milwaukee Bucks or have it leave the table until next summer when he would become an unrestricted free agent.

With free agency set to commence Friday and the 2020-21 campaign tipping off Dec. 22, Wojnarowski reports that dates have been tentatively set for the coming season.

The league's board of governors has yet to formally approve a four-team play-in tournament, according to Wojnarowski. A single Western Conference play-in matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies was held last season in the Orlando bubble.

Next season's All-Star Weekend, previously scheduled for Indianapolis in February, has not yet been officially canceled. It is unlikely such an event could be held given the ongoing pandemic.

The NBA and players' association have also agreed that each side will have the right to terminate the existing collective bargaining agreement after this season and next, according to Wojnarowski.