Lakers: When Does 2016 NBA Free Agency Start?
By Eric Yee
With news of the moratorium period being reduced, the question must be asked, when does 2016 NBA Free Agency actually start?
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently at a crossroads and that is a both exciting and frightening prospect. With the recent hiring of Luke Walton and firing of predecessor, Byron Scott, fans know that the organization is finally taking steps in the right direction.
Exactly how long the rebuild process will last, however, will be determined by a series of factors quickly approaching, including but not limited to the 2016 NBA Draft and the ever important, NBA Free Agency period.
In seasons past, teams were required to wait 10 days before actually signing free agents that they agreed to deals with during a period often referred to as the “moratorium period.” But arguably, partly at least, to reduce the occurrences of a DeAndre Jordan-esque situation from happening all over again, the league and union agreed to shorten the period to five days.
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According to ESPN, now, instead of having to wait from the start of Free Agency on July 1 until July 12 to sign and formalize new deals, franchises will be allowed to sign free agents as early as “July 7 at 12:01 a.m.”
This is both good and bad news for the Los Angeles Lakers who will have their pick of the bunch including Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Hassan Whiteside and perhaps even the likes of LeBron James, as they will have to be deliberate with their schemes and ultimate plan going forward.
This is to say, if the Purple and Gold are planning on swinging multiple free agents this off season, then planning for the future better have already begun, yesterday.
It is not every day that the Lakers have a chance at landing a top three pick while also having the most money available to sign free agents come summer.
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So, despite their recent offseason failures, 2016 may be the year that the Lakers flip the script and once again begin their ascent back to the top of the mountain.