Report: NBA Teams Can Begin Talking to Players Monday

Free agents will still not be able to come to an official agreement (or even an oral agreement) with their suitors until Friday, Dec. 9, but according to ESPN, team executives and coaches are free to begin courting players directly as of Monday morning: “NBA team executives and coaches will be allowed to start talking to players around the league starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET, according to sources familiar with the league’s decision. Teams were notified Saturday that contact with players — and free agents — will be allowed Monday as the scheduled opening of NBA training camps approaches Dec. 9. Sources say the league, though, is still telling teams the restrictions in place since Wednesday — which stipulate that no oral or written agreements can be struck with free agents — remain in place because the lockout is still technically in effect. Sources say coaches likewise can’t supervise on-court workouts before camp begins Friday but teams are allowed to give physical exams to free agents.”