NBA sets 2027 trade deadline. Here’s why the next few days matter.

The NBA has officially set the trade deadline for the 2026-27 season.

According to the league’s list of key dates, teams will have until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 11 to complete trades.

That may seem like something to file away for six months from now. But there’s actually another deadline coming much sooner that could have a real impact on the trade market.

Here’s why: Veteran players who sign certain contract extensions after Aug. 11 could become ineligible to be traded before this season’s deadline because of the NBA’s six-month trade restriction.

In other words, players who finalize qualifying extensions over the next several days can still be moved before Feb. 11 if a deal presents itself, as relayed by Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors. Wait much longer, and they may be locked onto their current roster for the rest of the season.

Not every extension triggers that restriction. Rookie-scale extensions aren’t affected, and some veteran extensions also remain immediately trade-eligible depending on the length and structure of the deal.

The Celtics have examples of both. Center Neemias Queta signed an extension that makes him ineligible to be traded until January, while forward Jordan Walsh‘s extension does not carry the same restriction.

Another date worth remembering is Nov. 11. Free agents who sign after that date won’t become trade-eligible this season because NBA rules require newly signed free agents to wait at least three months before they can be dealt.

Among the notable veterans still on the market are Jalen Duren, James Harden, Peyton Watson, Jonathan Kuminga and DeMar DeRozan, though all are widely expected to sign well before then.