Pelicans Off-Season Dates To Remember

The New Orleans Pelicans are looking forward to these dates on the summer calendar.

Author:
Chris Dodson
Apr 17, 2023 2:36 PM EDT

In this story:

NEW ORLEANS- The New Orleans Pelicans had high hopes for this season but the players are already on vacation. The front office is just getting started with its summer schedule. These are the most important dates on the NBA calendar for every team not chasing an NBA Finals appearance.

The 2023-24 season will start on Oct. 24, 2023, and conclude on April 14, 2024. Here are all of the important dates leading up to the next opening night in the Smoothie King Center.

Wrapping Up 2022-23 Season:

April 23: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline
May 13-14: NBA G-League Elite Camp
May 15-21: NBA Draft Combine
May 16: NBA Draft Lottery 2023 presented by State Farm
June 12: NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline
June 22: NBA Draft 2023 presented by State Farm
June 29: Last day for decisions on player, team, and early termination options Note: Certain contracts will require earlier decisions. Also, last day for teams to make qualifying offers to players eligible for restricted free agency.
June 30: Last official day of the 2022/23 NBA league year. Last day for players eligible for veteran extensions in 2022/23 to sign them. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents (5:00 pm CT).

Apr 1, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) reacts to making a basket against LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) with a fan during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

What These Months Mean For Pelicans

The NBA Draft Lottery is likely going to be anticlimactic for the fans. The Pelicans currently have just a 0.5% chance of landing Victor Wembanyama. There is a greater than 97% chance the front office comes out of the Draft Lottery with the 14th overall selection.

The good news is New Orleans will know early if they moved up if not announced as the holder of the 14th pick. The bad news could come if and when they try to shop that pick on the trade market. Then comes a decision on Jaxson Hayes, the team's only restricted free agent.

Decisions have to be made about Garrett Temple and Jose Alvarado as well but those seem more straightforward. Temple's contract is non-guaranteed and can be waived if not traded on draft night. Alvarado's salary is less than $2 million but he is seemingly worth almost $20 million to this team.

How the front office treats Hayes will go a long way toward signaling their intentions for the rest of the summer. The Pelicans can split up the Mid-Level Exception but is Hayes worth most of it? Naji Marshall became extension eligible on April 3 but his $1.9 million 2023-24 club option must be declined. Marshall could be more of a priority than Hayes, and cheaper, which will be a big factor now that Zion Williamson's max deal is kicking in.

New Orleans needs to keep the core together. Kira Lewis Jr. and Trey Murphy are still in a holding pattern as first-round picks. However, Herb Jones could sign a four-year deal worth up to $71 million in place of a club option for $1.8 million. Jones will be a restricted free agent next season if no contract extension is signed this summer.

Jul 15, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dereon Seabron (0) dribbles away from Los Angeles Lakers guard R.J. Cole (47) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Starting Fresh For 2023-23:

Trades during the NBA Draft are expected. The NBA really leans into the off-court drama surrounding free agency on the evening of June 30. However, the deals negotiated cannot be officially signed until the next day. This is the most jam-packed portion of the summer slate for the Pelicans. Will they scoop up some new talent or stand pat in the belief that "there is a number one seed in that locker room" as Larry Nance Jr. put in during exit interviews?

July 1: Official start of the 2023/24 NBA league year and the moratorium period begins. Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet. Teams can begin signing players to rookie scale contracts, minimum salary contracts, and two-way contracts. Teams can begin exercising the third- or fourth-year team options for 2024/25 on rookie scale contracts.
July 6: The moratorium period ends (11:01 am CT) Teams can begin officially signing players, extending players, and completing trades (11:01 am CT). The 24-hour period for matching an RFA offer sheet signed during the moratorium begins (11:01 am CT).
July 7-17: Las Vegas Summer League.
July 13: Last day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.
August 31: Last day for teams to waive players and apply the stretch provision to their 2023/24 salaries.
September 5: Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks; those players become free agents on September 6 if not tendered.

What will the locker room look like next season? Only time will tell. Stay tuned to Pelicans Scoop for all the latest updates and scouting reports heading into the NBA Draft.