NBA free agency 2026 live updates: Rumors, trades, reaction and latest news ahead of official start to offseason

NBA free agency does not officially begin until June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. However, as the flurry of activity we’ve already seen demonstrates, the offseason, in effect, is well underway.

Why? For one, teams can (and have) agreed to deals with their own free agents before then. Also, teams can agree to trades involving players under contract and simply make them official once the free-agent moratorium ends in the first week of July. That’s how the Bucks can trade Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Hornets can deal LaMelo Ball without officially announcing the transactions. They can also trade anyone already under contract for next season; this is why the Ja Morant trade to Portland is already official.

Finally, the idea that teams simply wait until the starting gun at 6 p.m. ET to actually negotiate with free agents is, let’s say, not reality in practice. Teams — and players — must get their plans in motion well in advance. Plus, so-called tampering is rampant because it is impossible to fully police. That’s one reason why the Jalen Duren sweepstakes have already advanced to this point.

Free agency, then, has already begun in practice, even if not officially.