NBA trade moratorium lifts Monday at noon EST

There was a flurry of Woj bombs today as the NBA rushed to open the trade market prior to Wednesday’s draft. The league has committed to a tentative schedule, a play-in tournament for the 7th and 8th seeds in each conference, a salary cap and cap projection as well as an opportunity for either side to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement after and of the next three seasons. Here’s the first look at how it’s currently stacked up.

Of course, the most exciting thing to sink your teeth into is trades!

The defending champion Lakers got right down to business, re-tooling with Oklahoma City’s feisty house cat, Dennis Schröder. They’ll be sending the 28th pick and Danny Green to the Thunder. Surely there’s more trade lined up and teams are just waiting for the time to strike. As for trades of guys that are currently set to be Free Agents, the normal trade restrictions will remain in place.

The trade market and draft will be immediately followed by the start of free agency. For their part New York will have until the day after the draft to decide what they intend to do with the team options they hold on Bobby Portis, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Bullock and very crucially, Theo Pinson. There is the possibility of trading them between now and then. Of course, they could retain their rights just the same and this is all moot!

Whatever comes to pass, it’s being jammed into this tiny studio apartment, but our new roommates could be very exciting. Of course the big question is what does this mean for the Knicks’ craterous cap space? If ever there was a chance for a team to weaponize it, now may be the best time ever. The pot is on the stove, people. Spark up.