When does NBA free agency period begin this offseason?

The NBA offseason will get going this upcoming week with free agency beginning on Monday, August 2nd. Players will be allowed to begin negotiations with teams at 6 p.m. on Monday and deals can become official starting on Friday, August 6th after midnight. The new league year will officially begin after midnight on Friday.

Among the top names who could be on the market are Phoenix Suns PG Chris Paul and Los Angeles Clippers SF Kawhi Leonard. Both All-Stars have player options in their current contracts that they can either opt into or hit the open market on August 2nd. CP3 is coming off one of his best NBA seasons, helping the Suns reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.

Leonard is in an interesting spot. He tore his ACL during the 2021 NBA playoffs and is expected to miss most of the 2021-22 season recovering from surgery. Kawhi has the option of opting out and signing with a new team, similar to what Kevin Durant did when he hit free agency. KD was coming off a torn Achilles and signed with the Brooklyn Nets, sitting out his first season with the team to recover. Leonard could also just rest most of the season in LA and return around the time of the playoffs to chase a title before reconsidering his options.

Other big names on the open market include Toronto Raptors PG Kyle Lowry, Utah Jazz G Mike Conley and San Antonio Spurs SF DeMar DeRozan. There are also quite a few big-name RFAs who could get offer sheeted or traded in a sign-and-trade deal. New Orleans Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls PF Lauri Markkanen and Atlanta Hawks PF John Collins are the players to monitor.