The NBA has officially formalized some of the key dates for free agency this upcoming summer.

Teams will be allowed to start negotiating with free agents on the evening of Monday, Aug. 2. They can then begin signing free agents just after midnight on Friday, Aug. 6.

There are some interesting names in this year's free-agent class, but it still might be something of a ho-hum summer.

The Los Angeles Clippers practically broke the internet with a midnight blockbuster trade involving Paul George and their signing of Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2019. Leonard can be a free agent once again when he inevitably exercises his opt-out clause. However, NBA executives believe it is essentially a foregone conclusion that Leonard will re-sign with the Clippers.

What abut the rest of the pack? Well, there are any number of intriguing veterans set to hit the open market.

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Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry's expiring contract made him a trade target ahead of the 2021 deadline, but he remained in Toronto and will now have the chance to explore his options this summer. Utah Jazz veteran point guard Mike Conley will also be available. The likes of Victor Oladipo and DeMar DeRozan will be free agents, as will Andre Drummond.

A couple restricted free agents could make headlines. Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins could be one of the most desirable players on the market, as might New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball. It remains to be seen whether those franchises will match offers for their young stars.

There's also the possibility of Chris Paul turning down his massive player option worth over $44 million for one last chance at a long-term deal, though that feels like a bit of a long shot given how much money that is.

In any event, August is sure to bring some interesting drama in the NBA.