When is the NBA Trade Deadline?

The NBA Trade Deadline is fast approaching and teams are starting to make their moves. Some teams are looking to make a push for the playoffs, while others are looking to unload some salary. Either way, it should be an interesting deadline day.

Introduction

The NBA trade deadline is the last day on which teams can make trades during the NBA season. It usually falls on a Thursday in February, although the exact date can vary from year to year. After the trade deadline has passed, teams are not allowed to make any more trades until the offseason.

History of the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is the last day that trades can be made between NBA teams before the end of the regular season. The deadline usually falls in mid-February, and it is typically set about a week before the All-Star break. This year, the trade deadline will fall on February 6th.

The trade deadline was not always in February; in fact, it wasn’t even always during the season. The first trade deadline was actually set for March 15th, 1947, just before the start of the inaugural NBA season. At that time, there was no All-Star break, so the deadline was set about two months into the season. The deadline was then moved up to January 15th in 1948, and it remained at that date for nearly two decades.

In 1966, the date was moved up to December 15th in an effort to avoid having trades disrupt team chemistry during a playoff push. This change proved to be unpopular with both players and fans, so the date was eventually moved back to its original spot in mid-March.

It wasn’t until 1988 that the trade deadline was finally moved to its current spot in February. This change was made in an effort to increase viewership of All-Star weekend, as well as to give teams a chance to make moves that could improve their chances of making a deep playoff run.

The Current NBA Trade Deadline

The current NBA trade deadline is Thursday, February 6th at 3pm ET. This is the deadline for all player trades to be completed in order for those players to be eligible to participate in the postseason.

Why the NBA Trade Deadline is Important

The NBA trade deadline is when teams have to finalize their rosters for the remainder of the season. After the deadline, players can no longer be traded until the offseason. This is important because it gives teams a chance to solidify their rosters for a playoff push. It also allows teams to unload players that they don’t want or need, in order to create space for future acquisitions.

Conclusion

The NBA trade deadline is usually set for the last Thursday in June, about a week before the start of the league’s free agency period. This year, the deadline has been pushed back to August 31st due to the coronavirus pandemic.