The NBA will allow the 22 teams involved in the league’s restart to expand their rosters and sign free agents prior to the resumption of play.
But there is one stipulation: in order to obtain eligibility to sign a rest-of-season contract, players in question must have held an NBA or G League contract within the past year.
Additionally, eligible players for consideration may not have signed a professional contract outside of the U.S. this season, per Marc Stein of the New York Times.
To be eligible to sign a rest-of-season contract, players must have held an NBA or G- League contract this season … or were NOT under contract this season with a professional team outside of the United States, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2020
Stein noted this makes the likes of Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith and DeMarcus Cousins eligible to sign a rest-of-season deal.
Free agents like Jamal Crawford, JR Smith and Nick Young — and DeMarcus Cousins, who spent much of the season with the Lakers — are thus eligible to sign rest-of-season deals starting Tuesday
Greg Monroe, after spending the season in Germany, is back in the US but not eligible
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 20, 2020
Not every team is headed to Orlando. But all 30 NBA franchises will have a one-week window to make transactions ahead of the restart, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The NBA has set the transaction window for its 30 teams: June 23 (12 pm ET) to June 30 (11:59 pm ET), sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2020
The window will allow for signings as well as waivers.
Teams can conduct rest of season contracts, substitute players ($183,115 minimum for two years of service), two-way contracts, and waivers during the window. https://t.co/bA9q7J4Axc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2020
But while the window is in play for the entire league, the teams heading to Orlando figure to benefit the most.
The Los Angeles Clippers have already set about to adding to their current roster.
Charania reported the Clippers will be signing veteran center Joakim Noah to a rest-of-season deal when his 10-day contract expires on June 23.
Joakim Noah and the Clippers plan for him to sign a rest of season deal next week, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Current 10-day contracts, including Noah, expire on June 23.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2020
Noah is just one of a number of veteran players who might suddenly become critical depth pieces on contending teams.
Both Crawford and Smith have been insistent about their desire to play all season, and a healthy Cousins might be an X-factor, pending he wants to take part in the restart.
In any case, there might be a bit of a scramble come Tuesday.
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