With the 2026/27 NBA season underway, our calendar of important 2026 preseason dates and deadlines can be retired in favor of a list of the key in-season dates for the ’26/27 campaign.
Here’s a breakdown of the deadlines and events that will influence player movement for the next several months across the NBA:
October 24
October 26
- NBA G League training camps open.
October 30
- Emirates NBA Cup (in-season tournament) begins.
November 2
November 6
- NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins.
November 27
- Emirates NBA Cup group play concludes.
December 1
- Priority order for waiver claims is now based on 2026/27 record, rather than 2025/26 record. Teams with the worst records receive the highest waiver priority.
December 4-5
- Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals.
December 8-9
- Emirates NBA Cup semifinals.
December 11
December 15
December 19-22
- NBA G League Winter Showcase and Tip-Off Tournament championship.
- NBA G League regular season begins.
January 5
January 7
- Last day to waive non-guaranteed NBA contracts (including two-way contracts) before they become guaranteed for the rest of the season. Salaries officially guarantee on January 10 if players haven’t cleared waivers before that date.
January 15
February 1
- Former first-round picks who were stashed overseas may sign rookie scale NBA contracts for the 2027/28 season.
February 11
- Trade deadline (2:00 pm CT).
February 12
February 19-21
- All-Star weekend in Phoenix (Mortgage Matchup Center).
February 28
March 1
- Last day a player can be waived by one team and remain eligible to appear in the postseason for another team.
- Last day for a restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet.
March 4
March 10
March 27
- NBA G League regular season ends.
March 30
- NBA G League playoffs begin.
April 9
- Last day to waive a player on an expiring contract or a player with an option for 2027/28 (4:00 pm CT).
- Note: This deadline falls on April 9 instead of April 8 because none of Sunday’s games will tip off before 4:00 pm CT.
April 11
- Last day of the NBA regular season.
- Last day players can sign contracts for 2026/27.
- Last day two-way contracts can be converted to standard NBA contracts.
- Luxury tax penalties calculated based on payroll as of this day.
April 12
- Playoff rosters set (2:00 pm CT).
April 13-16
April 17
Information from NBA.com was used in the creation of this post.
