NBA Free Agency: Dates and Times; Lonzo Ball, Kyle Lowry are big names to watch; How will the Knicks use the maximum space?

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With the NBA Finals and a draft in the rearview mirror, the final major event of the intense 2020-21 NBA calendar is finally upon us. On Monday at 6 p.m. ET, teams will be able to negotiate contracts with free agents. That’s when you’ll start reading and listening to the deals that have been agreed, but those deals can’t become official until the moratorium ends at 12:01 a.m. ET on August 6.

With that in mind, let’s get to the information you need to get ready for a busy week.

45 key players

James Herbert has teased the 45 key players who will be available Monday at 6PM ET as either restricted (the current team can match any offer) or unrestricted free agents.

Herbert divided his list into all-star caliber creators (such as Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul), restricted free agents (John Collins and Lonzo Paul), unrestricted free agents (Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroeder, Norman Powell), and veteran bodyguards (Derek Rose, Lou Williams, T.J. McConnell) ), wings (Evan Fournier, Andre Iguodala) and senior (Blake Griffin, Bobby Portes, Zach Collins).

Storylines to watch

Herbert gives you six to think about:

Point guards: under the title of Paul, who turned down his $44.1 million player option, and Laurie, who is increasingly associated with the Miami Heat), and how Russell Westbrook’s move to the Lakers could change. Who would be the best goalkeeper without points to sign with a new team? John Collins? Duncan Robinson? Demar DeRozan? What is the Nix plan? They have more than $50 million in space. The Mavericks, for example, could have about $30 million in roof space. This will mostly depend on who gets the most out of the minimum deals and exceptions. What will Kawhi Leonard do after rejecting the $36 million player option? The calculus has changed with Leonard’s AFC Champions League in part, which could keep him out for most or all of next season. Clearly, Leonard wants the security of a new long-term deal, likely in a maximum number, with an unknown infection case. Will the Clippers be the one to give it to him?

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