Important Dates for the 1996-97 Season (times listed are Central Time)
October 4      NBA training camps open
October 31     Opening day NBA rosters set (5 pm) [active rosters must
               be reduced to 12 men, teams can have up to 3 players on IR]
November 1     1996-97 regular season starts
November 5     Hall of Fame nominees announced
January 10     All contracts become guaranteed through the rest of the
               season (10-day contracts begin)
January 22-23  All-Star starters announced
January 26     All-Star coaches determined (coach with best record in each
               conference)
January 28     All-Star reserves announced
February 3     Hall of Fame inductees announced
February 8     All-Star Saturday in Cleveland
February 9     All-Star Game in Cleveland
February 20    NBA trading deadline (8 pm)
April 20       1996-97 regular season ends
April 21       Rosters set for the 1997 NBA Playoffs (2 pm)
April 24       1997 Playoffs begin
May 11         Early entry draft eligibility deadline (11 pm)
May 18         NBA Draft Lottery for the 13 teams that did not make the
               playoffs
May 30         Earliest possible date for Game One of the NBA Finals
June 18        Latest possible date for Game Seven of the NBA Finals
June 25        NBA Draft at Charlotte