The NBA’s 2025 free agency period opens June 30, launching the annual scramble as teams negotiate contracts, chase stars and plug roster gaps ahead of training camp.
NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents at 6 p.m. ET on June 30, but no deals can be signed until 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6. Teams are already allowed to negotiate with their own free agents ahead of the June 30 window.
The NBA offseason has officially begun.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) June 23, 2025
Teams can negotiate with their own free agents and own players who become extension-eligible on July 6.
Here are the tiers for each team, what they can spend, and any applicable restrictions.
These will be updated throughout free agency. pic.twitter.com/rQSLF2bLrz
What is the NBA Free Agency Process in 2025?
The 2025 NBA free agency window opens June 30 with the league’s moratorium, a negotiation period that runs through July 6 before teams can officially sign deals under a $154.6 million salary cap, according to Sports World News.
During the moratorium, teams and unrestricted free agents can negotiate terms but can’t finalize contracts until the window closes. Restricted free agents, usually younger players finishing rookie deals, can sign offer sheets with other teams, but their current club can match to keep them.
Cap space will shape how front offices operate. Teams must navigate guaranteed money and exceptions like the Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual Exception to add talent without exceeding cap thresholds.
"What we're going to see is a lot of free agents, are either going to re-sign with their teams, work on sign-and-trades because there's only one team with significant cap space."@ShamsCharania shares the latest on what's next heading into free agency ✍️ pic.twitter.com/vhRwvc9Mxd
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2025
Teams have up to two weeks after the NBA Finals to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents before the open market begins. Early commitments reached during that period become binding only once signings are allowed.
Working of NBA Free Agency: Player Types and Cap Strategies
The 2025 NBA free agency period mixes player age, team tenure, contract categories and salary cap loopholes into a complex puzzle. From max sign-and-trades to minimum deals, here’s a quick breakdown of how it works:
Unrestricted Free Agent: Free to sign with any team. No matching rights.
Restricted Free Agent: Can negotiate with other teams, but current team can match any offer.
Two-Way Contract: For players with fewer than four years of experience who split time between the NBA and G League.
Exhibit 10 Contract: Short-term, non-guaranteed training camp deal that can convert to a two-way contract.
Salary cap exceptions teams use in 2025:
| Salary Cap Exception | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Bird Rights | Re-sign own player above cap after 3 seasons without leaving via free agency. |
| Early Bird Rights | Eligible after 2 seasons. Players can re-sign up to 175% of their previous salary or 105% of league average. |
| Mid-Level Exception (MLE) | Includes three tiers: Taxpayer MLE, Non-Taxpayer MLE and Room MLE. |
| Bi-Annual Exception (BAE) | Usable once every two years; mid-range signing tool. |
| Minimum Salary Exception | One- or two-year deal at minimum salary based on player’s experience level. |
| Disabled Player Exception | Replaces injured player. Cap hit up to 50% of injured player’s salary or MLE. |
| Traded Player Exception | Absorbs new player’s salary via trade without matching outgoing salary. Valid for 1 year. |
Expect major moves before July ends, with Summer League action kicking off July 12 in Las Vegas.
