When the Magic chosen Tristan da Silva No. 18 total in June’s draft, the transfer wasn’t that shocking.
Regardless of his age — at 23, he entered his rookie season older than Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Caleb Houstan and Orlando‘s lottery picks from final 12 months, Anthony Black and Jett Howard — the Colorado Buffalo star checked vital packing containers for group president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and the entrance workplace.
A prolonged prospect at 6-8 with a 6-10 wingspan who supplied versatility on each ends and will shoot properly from distance (39.5% as a senior in faculty), da Silva match the Magic mildew.
However the place would he match on the courtroom?
There wasn’t a transparent or apparent pathway to him seeing constant time as a rookie as a part of an already younger roster that seemed to steadiness profitable and participant improvement whereas returning to the playoffs.
However as is the case in life, issues don’t at all times go to plan within the NBA, both.
So when Banchero suffered a torn proper belly muscle that sidelined him indefinitely on the finish of October, da Silva was prepared for the second.
Much like Black entering into Orlando’s beginning lineup within the sixth sport final season for the injured Markelle Fultz (now not with the group), da Silva was inserted into coach Jamahl Mosley’s beginning group by the seventh contest.
Since then, he’s made 10 consecutive begins, marking 11 whole of his 13 appearances.
In that stretch as a starter, he’s averaged 7.1 factors, 4.1 rebounds and a pair of.1 assists in 27.5 minutes. He’s additionally recorded a minimum of one steal 3 times and two-or-more steals as soon as alongside a minimum of one block twice and two-or-more blocks as soon as.
“He’s a participant,” veteran Gary Harris just lately instructed the Sentinel about da Silva. “He’s sensible. He understands the place he’s presupposed to be. He works laborious. It’s only a testomony to who he’s. He was drafted for a cause.”
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Though he’s not scoring at a excessive degree (he’s solely reached double figures 4 instances), that’s not what he’s been requested to do. That’s what Wagner, Suggs, Black and others are for.
For da Silva, he’s supplied constant minutes as a playmaker, dishing assists to slicing teammates and rebounding with effort.
Extra importantly, he hasn’t made many errors, averaging simply 0.5 turnovers. His 3.57 assist-to-turnover ratio led all rookies who had performed a minimum of 11 video games getting into Saturday evening’s contest in opposition to the Pistons.
And in comparison with the remainder of the rookie class, da Silva has performed above his means given the place he was drafted — exterior the draft lottery (high 14 picks).
Throughout his final 11 begins, the No. 18 decide averaged the sixth-most minutes, the Tenth-most assists, and the Eleventh-most rebounds amongst all rookies, in keeping with NBA.com.
The Magic ahead’s plus-5.3 web score (Orlando’s level differential per 100 possessions whereas he’s on courtroom) was fourth-best in comparison with different rookies who’ve performed in a minimum of 11 video games.
Of these 26 gamers, da Silva was one in every of simply eight with a constructive web score heading into Saturday’s slate.
When Banchero ultimately returns, Mosley must as soon as once more configure his rotations, and that would imply restricted motion for da Silva. Earlier than Banchero’s harm, da Silva had performed simply 5 minutes of rubbish time on opening evening and hadn’t seen motion in Orlando’s different 4 video games.
Till Banchero will get again, the rookie will goal to do what he does greatest — the little issues that add up in a significant manner.
Jason Beede might be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
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Magic at Hornets
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