Deadlines and Commitments - No. 74

The big commitment doesn't have a date attached ... that's the hiring of a new GM and head coach.  But with Mikhail Prokhorov and Dmitry Razumov in town, it would seem that the process is about to move into high gear.  According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets would like to have a GM in place by the trade deadline, February 18, but it might be better if the GM could attend the All-Star Game in Toronto a few days earlier.

Here are some dates...

February 14 -- All-Star Game in Toronto. Having a new GM in place would be ideal as the Game brings together virtually every executive in the NBA.  It's a place where deals start getting discussed in anticipation of the deadline four days later.

Mid - February -- The HSS Training Center will open around now in Industry City, Brooklyn. The Nets will be at home for most of the month, an ideal time for the move. They and the staff won't have to get on a plane from February 1 through 21. Their only away game in that stretch is a bus trip to Philadelphia. As specific date hasn't been announced but Sarah Kustok said this week that the Nets would start practicing in Brooklyn "after the break," meaning after February 16.

February  18 -- Trade deadline, 3 p.m. It is unlikely that any deal done now will 1) put them over the luxury tax threshold or 2) cut significantly into next season's cap space.  But word is that Frank Zanin, the assistant GM elevated to Billy King's job, might want to make a splash and help his own chances, limited as they are.

February 19 -- Nets return to action vs. the Knicks at Barclays Center. The Nets have talked about having Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough return after the break.  Could this be the game we see RHJ return to action and CMC make his debut?

February 22 -- Euroleague playoff roster deadline. Players signed after this date cannot participate in the Euroleague playoffs. Would Sergey Karasev be tempted to head back to Europe?

February 23 -- The "Circus Trip," an eight-game, 22-day trip across America begins in Portland.. Will Rondae Hollis-Jefferson be active?

March 1 -- NBA's buyout deadline.  Players waived by this date, regardless of where they they sign before season's end, are playoff eligible. Could Joe Johnson be bought out if he's not traded?

April 13 -- Last game of the regular season. Luxury --and repeater-- tax calculations are based on the team's payroll on this date. Nets are currently about $1.4 million under the threshold. Don't expect them to be over.

April 15 -- NBA playoff roster deadline. Once waived, players have plenty of time to make a decision on where to go.

May 17 -- NBA Draft Lottery 2016.  Depending on where the Nets finish, and where the ping pong balls fall, this could be one of the more  painful dates in Nets history.

June 27 -- NBA Draft. No first rounder. Nets will have to swap second rounders with the Clippers unless LAC finishes with a top five record. As of now, the Nets will not have to swap picks. The Nets will also likely buy a pick or two, as they have every year but 2013 since Prokhorov bought the team. Those second rounders could be signed to a Long Island Nets contract with the Nets retaining the players' NBA rights. Also, the trade exception of $1,357,080 from the Mason Plumlee trade expires.

June 30 -- Four Nets with player options must decide on whether to exercise them: Andrea Bargnani, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington and Thomas Robinson. Total cost: $5.6 million.

July 1 -- Free agency begins.  Teams can contact but not sign free agents. Nets can sign Juan Pablo Vaulet.

July 4 - 9 -- Croatia (Bojan Bogdanovic) and Italy (Andrea Bargnani) will face off in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Torino, Italy.  It will be difficult for either to advance to the Olympics. Competition is tough.

July 13 -- Trade exception of $2,170,465 from the Steve Blake trade expires.

August 5- 21 -- Rio Olympics.  As of now, only one Nets player is likely to play, as long as he's healthy. Juan Pablo Vaulet's Argentina team has qualified and he's likely to make the squad.

August 31 -- Stretch payment deadline. If the Nets wanted to stretch a player, they must do it by this date.