Long time lurker, fist time poster. Are players eligible to be sign and traded on draft night? I know July 1st is the first day of free agency but it seems like there are special circumstances on draft night. Not to bring up a certain Toronto Raptor but being a draft day nut.. this question has been driving me bonkers. Thanks guyz.
Nope. No special circumstances for sign and trades on draft night. You can trade players who are under contract for next season (which is what happened with Ray Allen a couple years ago) but you cannot deal free agents.
There have been draft-night trades that were made in principle only, because the teams were not yet eligible to trade. So, they essentially promised to consummate that draft-day trade on a specified date in the future. However, since teams aren't even allowed to talk to free agents that early in the summer, a SnT is probably impossible even in principle.
Thanks JuanValdez. So I wonder if this affects our draft strategy at all.. Will the Raptors be able to hint at a particular player they are interested in? Are we willing to get stuck with a Raptors inspired draft pick if Chris Bosh heads elsewhere? Guessing Morey has such credibility no matter who he takes other GMs will want/respect.
93-94 Olajuwon and Drexler 94-95 Olajuwon and Drexler 10-11 Yao and Martin? Does that say 93-94 Hakeem and Clyde? Just for the record and to catch you up on some rockets history, Drexler was in Portland in 93-94. Would you like a tissue?