New NBA Rumors on Trade Market for Pacers, Kings, Nets, More Struggling Teams

Through the early stages of the 2026-27 NBA campaign, top teams have started to reveal themselves while teams destined to miss the playoffs are also starting to become clear.

But unlike most years, bottom feeders won't benefit from an all-out tank.

Under the new 3-2-1 lottery system, the bottom three teams will have just a 5.4 percent chance of earning the top pick in the draft. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that, because of the new system, one Eastern Conference team strategist said, "there will be less sellers than ever before" at the trade deadline.

Fischer pointed to the Sacramento Kings as an example. The Kings are 1-10 and are long shots at making the playoffs, but because they need to finish better than the bottom three in the league, they "need to add talent immediately rather than subtract."

"Will everybody be buyers at the trade deadline?" one Western Conference executive asked Fischer.

Fischer also noted that the Indiana Pacers, who are 4-8 amid a Tyrese Haliburton injury, "have indeed begun sniffing around at potential mid-tier improvements."

The Brooklyn Nets don't control their own pick in the first round of the 2027 draft, so avoiding a bottom-three record isn't paramount. Instead, Fischer pointed out that they could "populate the market with some trade candidates," as could the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Miami Heat, who are off to a 5-6 start despite the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, have eyed free agents like Kevin Porter Jr. and Gabe Vincent, according to Fischer.