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Rockets offseason dates: June deadlines and decision timelines
Rockets offseason dates: June deadlines and decision timelines With the calendar turning to June and the NBA Finals matchup set, here's an early look at this month's offseason deadlines for the Rockets.
The 2025 NBA Finals matchup is set, with the Oklahoma City Thunder representing the Western Conference and the Indiana Pacers representing the East.
The calendar has turned to June.
For the 28 other NBA teams, that means the 2025 offseason is almost here. For the Houston Rockets and other teams across the league, here's a look at key dates and deadlines over the coming weeks:
June 14-22 (first day after NBA Finals): Teams can negotiate with their own free agents
(first day after NBA Finals): Teams can negotiate with their own free agents June 25 : First round of NBA draft
: First round of NBA draft June 26 : Second round of NBA draft
: Second round of NBA draft June 29 : Deadline for player/team options and qualifying offers for restricted free agents
: Deadline for player/team options and qualifying offers for restricted free agents June 30 (5 p.m. Central): Teams can begin negotiating and reaching verbal agreements with free agents from other clubs
Trades can occur at any time, although to use 2025-26 salary figures, teams will need to wait until July (the start of the next fiscal year) to process those with the league office. For salary matching purposes, deals finalized in June will be based on 2024-25 salaries.
For those June 30 free agency negotiations, the Rockets are likely to operate above the NBA's 2025-26 salary cap. That means their maximum financial tool available (excluding trades) to sign external free agents will be either the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE), estimated at a starting salary of $14.1 million, or the taxpayer MLE, which is estimated at $5.7 million.
The decision on which one the Rockets will use will depend on total 2025-26 payroll projections, which will depend on the surrounding roster composition at the time.
For the Rockets (salaries), players with June deadlines or decisions to be made include:
Fred VanVleet, 2025-26 team option ($44.9 million)
Steven Adams, unrestricted free agent, Full Bird rights ($12.6 million salary in 2024-25)
Jae'Sean Tate, unrestricted free agent, Full Bird rights ($7.6 million salary in 2024-25)
Jeff Green, unrestricted free agent, Early Bird rights ($8.0 million salary in 2024-25)
Jock Landale, 2025-26 non-guaranteed salary ($8.0 million)
Aaron Holiday, 2025-26 team option ($4.9 million)
N'Faly Dante, 2025-26 qualifying offer (two-way)
Jack McVeigh, 2025-26 qualifying offer (two-way)
On July 1, players who just finished their third NBA seasons on rookie-scale contracts will become extension eligible. That extension window runs until just prior to the start of the next regular season in October.
In Houston, this will apply to Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason.
More: Rockets, Fred VanVleet delay deadline for 2025-26 contract decision
