Utah Jazz: Offseason calendar, key dates for draft and free agency
By Ryan Aston
An overview of important dates related to the draft, free agency, trades and more on the Utah Jazz’s 2018 offseason calendar.
Although many would point to the summer of 2019 as Utah Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey’s time to shine, he and his brain trust will undoubtedly explore every avenue for improving the team this offseason, if they can do so.
You never know — the next great Jazzman could be had at next week’s NBA Draft. Or perhaps the trade and free agency markets prove more fruitful than anticipated. Whatever Lindsey and Co. decide to do, the moves made this summer could alter the course of the franchise forever.
Or not. The Jazz could essentially stand pat and wait for next year. But hey…it’s mid-June right now and anything is possible, right?
To that end, here’s a look at some key dates to keep in mind as the Jazz attempt to navigate their way through the offseason and emerge on the other side better than they were last season.
June 21
2018 NBA Draft — The Jazz will select at No. 21 in the first round, after which they won’t pick again until the back-end of the second round at No. 52.
June 25
2018 NBA Awards — This is when we’ll find out if Rudy Gobert is the Defensive Player of the Year and whether or not Quin Snyder will nab Coach of the Year honors.
Of course, the big race for Jazz fans has been the Rookie of the Year battle between Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons. However, Simmons is a heavy favorite to take home the trophy.
June 29
Qualifying offer deadlines for point guards Dante Exum and Raul Neto — In order to make them restricted free agents, the Jazz will have to tender qualifying offers of $4.4 million and $1.8 million to Exum and Neto respectively.
There’s a chance that Exum may just sign his and play out next season. If he did so and stayed healthy and productive, he’d likely do much better for himself on the market during the summer of 2019.
July 1
This is the official starting date of the 2018-19 NBA league year, so there will be a lot going on in Jazzland.
Firstly, the July moratorium begins. It’s the negotiation period during which teams and free agents can begin reaching verbal agreements. That said, teams can’t actually sign most free agents or make trades. The big exception there is that restricted free agents can sign offer sheets or accept their qualifying offers.
Other exceptions include rookie-scale contracts, some minimum salary contracts and two-way contracts.
In addition to all of that, the Jazz will have to make a decision on Thabo Sefolosha. His $5.5 million salary will guarantee for the ’18-19 season.
July 2-5
Utah Jazz Summer League — Get the full Jazz summer league schedule HERE.
July 6
Moratorium ends at 10:00am MT — This is when the Jazz and the league’s other 29 teams can officially begin signing players and/or extending contracts. The two-day period for matching offer sheets on restricted free agents signed during the moratorium kicks in at this point.
Looking at players currently on Utah’s roster, the no-trade restriction on David Stockton expires.
July 6-17
Las Vegas Summer League
July 9
More contract decisions for the Jazz — the contracts of Jonas Jerebko ($4.2 million) and Ekpe Udoh ($3.4 million) both become guaranteed for ’18-19. Sidenote: At this point, the Jazz would be able to use their full salary numbers (as well as Sefolosha’s) for trades, if they’re so inclined.
July 13
This is the final day for teams to withdraw any unsigned qualifying offers they’ve tendered to RFAs.
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The events that follow will fall well into the heart of next season, but will likely have bearing on moves the Jazz make this summer…
January 10, 2019
Another day for contract guarantees — Royce O’Neale’s $1.4 million and Stockton’s $1.5 million officially hit the books. O’Neale is a shoe-in for a spot on next year’s squad.
February 8
Trade exceptions for Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood expire — The exceptions the Jazz created with their moves at the trade deadline last February could come into play this offseason to bridge salary gaps in potential deals should the Jazz decide to work the trade market.
Johnson’s exception is valued at just over $3.7 million, while Hood’s is $2.4 million.