7 Fantasy Basketball Breakout Draft Picks to Target (2023)

For the 2023-2024 fantasy basketball season, identifying breakout players is crucial for draft success. These emerging NBA stars provide unmatched value, positioning fantasy managers for a dominant season. By targeting potential breakout talents in your fantasy basketball drafts, you’re laying a foundation for a league-winning strategy, especially in standard H2H points leagues.

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2023-2024 Fantasy Basketball Breakout Players

Jordan Poole (PG, SG – WAS)

Jordan Poole needed a new home after a frustrating year in Golden State. He found one that is essentially ideal and will join the Wizards to play alongside Kyle Kuzma going forward. He should be given a much longer leash in Washington, and in turn, his offensive numbers should skyrocket. While his ADP is currently in the 70s, his output will be much closer to the fourth round when it’s all said and done.

Projections

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,630	652	1,487	265	753	434	515	–	–	236	384	249	59	21	–	2,003

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU)

Alperen Sengun began to find his footing in his second season. He averaged almost 29 minutes per game and became quite adept at filling the stat sheet, averaging 14.8/9/3.9 per game. Houston should finally figure out how to get him consistent minutes, and Sengun will have new arrival Fred VanVleet to complement his inside game. His draft capital in the sixth round should provide plenty of dividends for fantasy managers in points and categories leagues.

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,228	383	742	20	69	208	292	–	–	644	249	173	71	76	–	994

Franz Wagner (PF, SF – ORL)

Franz Wagner is an excellent all-around player who often goes overlooked in drafts (current ADP is 90). He has talent around him and is able to create his own offense when necessary. Expect a leap in his third year to the tune of 18/5/4 while helping in 3PM and FT% in category leagues.

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,534	532	1,097	148	404	253	300	–	–	325	271	157	70	18	–	1,464

Cameron Johnson (SF, PF – BKN)

Cameron Johnson got a nice four-year contract from Brooklyn, adding him to their young core. All of his numbers have improved each year of his four-year career, and he has a great chance to continue improving these numbers. In category leagues in particular, Johnson can boost your defensive stats, averaging 1.2 steals per game last season.

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,174	395	848	194	488	170	201	–	–	316	132	74	81	25	–	1,156

Devin Vassell (SG, SF – SAS)

Devin Vassell improved his numbers in his third season, but a putrid San Antonio roster did him no benefit. The arrival of Victor Wambanyama will definitely take away some of his shot opportunities, but he should see a bump in other categories now that he isn’t the lone Spur capable of providing offense. Vassell’s highest breakout potential comes from his stellar defense and multi-category contributions.

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,026	393	918	164	458	139	176	–	–	271	217	82	80	29	–	1,088

Josh Giddey (PG, SG, SF, PF – OKC)

Josh Giddey is on the rise after an impressive second year in the NBA. He is particularly useful in category leagues as he offers decent numbers in all of them except free throw percentage. In general, though, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren in tow, Giddey should see a bump in facilitator numbers and improve his already-high 6.2 assists per game. Giddey is an efficient addition to fantasy teams with multi-positional eligibility.

Season (2023)
SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,397	515	1,094	88	283	151	207	–	–	560	477	196	65	27	–	1,269

Austin Reaves (SF, SG – LAL)

Austin Reaves put on a show during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, but it was a show he’d put on most of the season. Chances are good Reaves will see an increased role in the Los Angeles offense, which could catapult him into new territory for fantasy basketball status. The 25-year-old is going extremely late in many standard leagues, but he should provide much higher value. He is a nice late addition to fantasy rosters.

SOURCE	MIN	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
2023 Zeile Consensus FantasyPros	2,389	402	781	144	369	310	345	–	–	245	303	146	50	22	–	1,257

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to check out all of our tools here at FantasyPros, including our NBA DraftWizard, which helps you during the draft itself. Have fun mock drafting, and good luck!

NBA Jordan Poole Alperen Sengun (C – HOU) Franz Wagner Cameron Johnson Devin Vassell (SG, SF – SAS) Josh Giddey (PG, SG, SF, PF – OKC) Austin Reaves (SF, SG – LAL)

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About Author

Kelly Kirby

@thewonkypenguin

Kelly began playing fantasy sports in 2002, immediately won a league with a team anchored by Adam Dunn, and has been hooked ever since. She grew up in Iowa and somehow became a Cubs/Vikings/Timberwolves/Oilers fan, and now works as a Content Specialist at FantasyPros.