In case you haven't noticed, Aug. 15 falls on a Friday. What makes that date special? Normally, nothing, but this year, it marks the point when only 45 days remain in the regular season, thus ensuring that a first-time call-up will retain his rookie eligibility for next season.

You should know how this works by now. The 2022 CBA introduced new draft pick incentives to combat service-time manipulation, namely by encouraging teams to include rookies on their opening day roster. But that rookie designation is the key to it all, and as such, preserving it is paramount.

What we've seen in the years since is a rejiggering of peak promotion periods. Now, the optimal time to call up a top prospect is late August, giving him a chance to get his feet wet without costing him his rookie eligibility.

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