(07-26-2021, 03:30 PM)fifteenth Wrote: So, are all trades legal now? Or just trades that involve upcoming draft picks?
TL/DR Answer - Trades can certainly be done right now - teams can trade once their season (including playoffs) ends. But assuming this is the entire NO-MEM trade, Woj's saying they are "finalizing" this one is really a big overstatement.
Added details
1 Nothing has been, can, or will be reported to the NBA (which is what makes a trade binding) until the terms are cap-legal for both teams. This isn't even close.
2 At best, they are more or less working on a verbal agreement that they will do this deal in August - which neither team is obligated to keep, if they later feel a reason to do something different. Teams almost always go ahead as agreed, but not 100% of the time. And there may be contingencies included, like with the draft.
3 The 2021 draft picks will still be held by the original teams on draft day, presumably drafting for each other. But sometimes picks being traded can be contingent on "if our player is available" and if not, the deal blows up.
4 By the time it gets to the REAL finalizing point, other teams and their picks/players may be added.