NBA Draft report: Tristan da Silva of Colorado

There weren’t many players in college basketball this past season with a Synergy Sports profile as impressive as Colorado forward Tristan da Silva. Da Silva scored 1.139 points per possession in spot-up situations, putting him in the 87th percentile and giving him an “excellent” classification — which had everything to do with him being lethal as a catch-and-shoot player. 

On top of that, da Silva was considered “very good” as a cutter, pick-and-roll ball handler, screener and isolation player. He also earned that distinction for his play in transition. Da Silva also averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor, 39.5 percent shooting from three and 83.5 percent shooting from the floor. That said, the counting stats were just as impressive for da Silva, who also happens to have good size at 6’8’’ with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and 8-foot-9 standing reach.

Considering all the above, it might be a little surprising that da Silva is being mocked to go in the back half of the first round in the 2024 NBA Draft. However, da Silva was a four-year college player and is 23 years old. That age and experience comes with a perceived lack of upside, and NBA front offices generally want players with a little more room for growth. And while that’s completely understandable, another team stands to gain by falling in love with what da Silva is right now. 

Da Silva might not have the ability to grow into an All-Star caliber player, but he feels like a great fifth starter or key bench piece. As previously mentioned, da Silva shot 39.5 percent from three last season, and he did it on 4.8 attempts per game. Da Silva actually upped his three-point percentage in each of his college seasons, and he did that while increasing his volume every year. The forward just has a really nice jumper, with good mechanics and great overall touch from behind the three-point line. That should mean that his three-point percentage will translate pretty nicely in the NBA. 

It also doesn’t hurt that he sports a pretty low release, which happens to help him with his range. So, da Silva shouldn’t have much trouble dealing with a deeper three-point line. Da Silva likely won’t be a player that will come flying off screens, as he might not have the foot speed for it. But he’s likely going to be the forgotten man when he’s on the floor in the NBA, as he’s not much of an on-ball creator. That should mean that da Silva will get quality looks at the next level, as defenders will likely lose track of him rather frequently. And da Silva is a player that makes defenses pay for leaving him open. 

He’s also a player who could do damage as a pick-and-pop option, even if he’s not the primary screener in his five-man unit. In addition to being a deadly three-point shooter, da Silva also has a solid back-to-the-basket game. The forward played in the post a lot more often earlier in his career, and he eventually started roaming around the three-point line. But the Buffaloes were always willing to get him his touches on the block, and he’s capable of scoring in there. Da Silva has decent touch on his jump hook, can bump his defender to create space for fadeaway jumpers and can also utilize his advanced footwork to get by his man and finish at the rim. 

Sure, posting da Silva won’t be a priority in the NBA. But it’s never a bad skill set to have in the event of a mismatch. And da Silva is smart enough to know when he has one, or how to create one. So, he won’t hesitate to get to the mid-post area and call for the ball. Da Silva is also a very good passer for an off-ball player. The forward actually used to turn the ball over quite frequently early in his college career, but he really cleaned things up as he got older. Now, da Silva is a guy who can make pinpoint outlet passes, or drop entry passes right in the bucket for easy points. 

He also just keeps his head up and stays aware of where his teammates are whenever he has the ball. That might not seem like much, but good things tend to happen when you’re constantly willing to make plays for others. With that in mind, da Silva should be a very good connective piece in the NBA. It should also be noted that da Silva is a good cutter and transition player. He might not be a very explosive athlete, but he understands when he needs to make himself available to his teammates. And that’s a quality that should win over his next coaching staff rather quickly. Da Silva also finishes well for a player that lacks explosion, and he can also draw some fouls. Da Silva is also a pretty solid defender. 

His length and overall basketball IQ really show up on this end of the floor, where he’s constantly in the right positions and playing angles well. That makes da Silva a rock-solid team defender, and he’s going to be able to cover threes and fours at the next level. However, don’t mistake da Silva for a great on-ball defender. That’s simply not in the cards for a player with his pedestrian athleticism. But he’s not going to get killed in isolation, and he’s generally just good enough on this end of the floor not to stand out completely. There are undoubtedly some things that are going to be a little frustrating when watching da Silva in the NBA. 

The lack of athleticism is definitely a bummer and he can sometimes do a little too much off the bounce trying to prove he can create for himself. But the good far outweighs the bad, and he’s simply ready to make contributions from Day 1. So, it’s probably best not to overthink this one. Players with his size who can shoot the basketball, make plays for others, and hold their own defensively usually aren’t available in the middle of the first round.