X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Basketball Winners And Losers From 2023 NBA Offseason Trades

Chris Paul

With many players finding new homes in the 2023 offseason, some of them are expected to take big leaps while others' stocks could fall dramatically. Aidin Ebrahimi looks at the players whose stocks went up and down after the offseason's trades.

The dust has settled from the 2023 offseason, and a lot of players have found new homes, both as FAs and signing contracts, and as players who got traded to new teams, and we'll be focusing on the latter today.

These players had no control over their new destinations, but now that they're in a new team, they will put their heads down and work towards helping their new squads. Some of these players will get more opportunities while others will unfortunately get buried deep in their new team's depth charts.

With that in mind, this article will look at some of the players who were winners (and losers) after the trades of the 2023 offseason. Note that this focuses mostly on each player's statistical production.

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

#4. Winner: Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets)

Dillon Brooks can now do whatever he pleases in H-Town, which is the only thing he ever wanted. I have previously criticized Houston's move to sign him and Fred VanVleet but acknowledged that this signing was a big win for Brooks himself and his production. Brooks' efficiency has been questioned in the past, but he seems like one of those players whose efficiency could increase with more freedom.

Brooks isn't blameless for his exit from Memphis. He tried to be the NBA's new top villain in Memphis but he simply didn't have the talent for that type of role. No one would bat an eye at him in Houston, for a few years at least, so he has full freedom to do whatever he wants with his image and playing style. I mean, are you really a villain if you're playing for a team that would be lucky to get to the Play-In Tournament?

Regardless of how the Rockets will manage his minutes, we all know that his role with the Rockets will be bigger than it was with the Grizzlies. The 2023 All-Defensive Second Team member knows that he can grow with his new squad, as he was quoted as saying that Fred VanVleet would help him out on the floor more than Ja Morant ever did.

That's a very bold claim, but it shows that he is confident in his new team and PG. Brooks is 27, which simultaneously means that he's at the peak of his physical powers and he's one of the veteran voices of this Rockets team, as he's the fifth oldest player on the team and has the third most NBA experience among his teammates. Look for him to have the best season of his career and prove himself as one of the best two-way players in the association.

 

#3. Loser: Chris Duarte (Sacramento Kings)

The NBA world moves very fast. One minute, you're on top of the world, and just as you're trying to bask in your glory, you realize that you've been overtaken by other young guns and now your place and standing in the league is in serious jeopardy.

That's exactly what happened with Chris Duarte, who went from one of the most promising young players in the NBA to an afterthought who was traded for two second-round picks in 2028 and 2030, meaning that he went from being a lottery pick with tons of promise to being traded for two kids who are middle schoolers right now. In his rookie season, Durate put up 13.1 points a night while shooting 43.2% from the field and making the All-Rookie Second Team, but his stats plummeted last season, averaging just 7.9 PPG while shooting 36.9% from the field.

There are a bunch of reasons for his downfall, one of them was switching his position from SG to SF due to the drafting of Benedict Mathurin. He couldn't even be a hybrid SG/SF due to the emergence of Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, both very hungry players who pounced on the opportunity to replace Duarte. His time in Indiana ended officially when he was traded to Sacramento.

Things aren't much better in Sactown, as he is behind Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk in the SG depth chart, and things aren't much better at SF as he'll have to compete with Harrison Barnes, Kessler Edwards, and the newly acquired Aleksandar Vezenkov, who has quietly risen up the ranks to become one of the best players in Europe and could be a darkhorse Rookie of the Year candidate. With this much competition, Duarte's NBA future is in serious jeopardy.

 

#2. Winner: Jordan Poole (Washington Wizards):

Another "now I do what I want" type of player is Jordan Poole. Similarly to Duarte, the perception of Poole has changed quite a bit. In his first two years, he was thought to be a high volume-low efficiency role player who would bounce around from team to team, but he broke out in 2021-22, putting up great numbers in the regular season (18.5 PPG on 44.8% shooting).

Many thought he'd struggle in the postseason, but he kept up his awesome production in the playoffs, averaging 17 points a night while shooting 50.8% from the floor and 39.1% from deep en route to winning the 2022 NBA championship. He then signed a four-year/$140 million extension with the Dubs, but a practice altercation with teammate Draymond Green changed everything.

2022-23 was a nightmare for Poole, as his efficiency dropped (from 59.8 TS% to 57.3 TS%) due to other teams game-planning for him and no longer treating him as a bench player. His advanced stats showed that he was actively hurting the Warriors, as his PER dropped from 16.1 to 14.6, his Win Shares per 48 were halved from 2021-22 (0.126 to 0.063), his VORP went from 1.7 to 0.1, and his Plus/Minus Net Per 100 Possessions average went from +1.4 to a disgusting -7.1.

His playoff stats are somehow even worse, and his terrible performance against the Lakers caused the team to trade him. Now, both he and the Warriors get a fresh start, which I previously mentioned as being a good thing for both parties. Poole is now the undeniable leader of this Wizards team and he can get his career back on track.

 

#1. Loser: Chris Paul (Golden State Warriors):

Getting Chris Paul was a win for the Warriors, and going to Golden State is a win for Chris Paul as he's looking to get that elusive ring. So, why is he listed as a loser here? We're focused on production in this article, and it's almost certain that Paul's production will decline this season due to many factors.

Firstly, his role in Golden State will be nowhere near as prominent as it was in Phoenix, or anywhere else he's ever played. Paul has played in 1214 games and has started in all of them, but it's almost certain that he'll have to come off the bench for the Warriors due to the presence of the "Splash Brothers" Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the backcourt. Even if you want to go small ball, Kevon Looney would have to come off the bench, which isn't ideal since most of the Dubs' best lineups last year included him.

The second factor is the greatest and most unbeatable force in NBA history: Father Time. No one is safe from it, even LeBron James, the one man we thought would be immune from Father Time has suffered multiple injuries with him nearing his 40s (seven different injuries in the last two seasons).

Unlike LeBron however, Paul has already been on the decline quietly, as 2022-23 was the first season of Paul's career since his rookie season that he didn't record a positive Plus/Minus Net Per 100 Possessions average (0.0 last season). He also recorded career lows in PER, Win Shares, Win Shares per 48, VORP, Box Plus/Minus, and even some raw stats like PPG. He's 38, already declining, and going to get a diminished role on the Warriors. So, even though he could get a ring, he won't be the All-Star of old.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Saquon Barkley

Scores Touchdown in Low-Yardage Outing
Jalen Hurts

Rushes for Two Touchdowns on Thursday
Javonte Williams

Salvages Inefficient Outing With Two Touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb

110-Yard Game Marred by Four Drops
Will Shipley

Questionable to Return on Thursday Night
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez Expected to Return on Friday
Micah Parsons

Expected to Play in Week 1
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Exits With Knee Contusions
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Limited With Calf Injury
Justin Jefferson

Not on Week 1 Injury Report
Omarion Hampton

to Start Against Chiefs on Friday
Will Smith

Unlikely to Play This Weekend
Shohei Ohtani

to Pitch on Monday
Najee Harris

Off the Final Injury Report, Will Play in Week 1
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Christian Kirk

Expected to be Sidelined in Week 1, Could Miss More Time
Amari Cooper

Informs Raiders of Retirement
Jayden Reed

Returns to Practice
Brandon Sproat

to Start for Mets on Sunday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Jauan Jennings

Gets Incentives Added to Contract
Jakobi Meyers

Unsure About Potential Extension
Matthew Stafford

Off Injury Report Ahead of Week 1
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch "Sometime This Weekend"
Jackson Chourio

Absent on Wednesday With Hamstring Cramp
Roman Anthony

Officially Goes on Injured List
Jauan Jennings

Limited on Wednesday, Expected to Play in Week 1
Malik Nabers

Not on Initial Injury Report
Roman Anthony

"High Probability" Roman Anthony Lands on Injured List
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Jason Adam

to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Roman Anthony

Will Undergo MRI on Wednesday
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Travis Hunter

Jaguars List Travis Hunter as Starting Wide Receiver, Backup Cornerback
Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Saturday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP