We’ve heard some rough estimates that unrestricted free agency could start by Monday July 25, with teams able to re-sign their own players starting on Friday. That timeline sounds a little aggressive.
Judy Battista of the New York Times that a “labor seminar” for league executives will be held Thursday and Friday, should a labor agreement be ratified Thursday. They will go over all the new rules. It’s hard to imagine transactions allowed that day or even the next day.
Battista and ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that a memo was sent out to all 32 teams Monday detailing plans for the week. Teams were asked to bring up to four key personnel members per club to the meeting in addition to owners. Agents will also have to be briefed.
It sounds like the rough timeline we wrote about when the “Transition Rules” were reported by ESPN are basically still expected.
This all assumes a deal is actually done by Thursday and we’re not ready to pop any champagne just yet.