[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Tristan da Silva
Frame: 6’8”, 220lbs
Position: Forward
School: Colorado
2024 Draft Age: 23
Stats via espn.com 

Offense

Da Silva is one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft. He is a jack of all trades on the offensive end. He can score at all three levels, create shots for himself with and without the ball, play make from the post and perimeter, and even play the pick-and-roll from both angles. 

As a scorer, da Silva can get buckets from all over the court. He is an excellent shooter off the catch, finishing his senior season at 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. However, he rarely shoots the ball off the dribble as his jump shot is relatively stiff and relies heavily on his feet being correctly set. Da Silva can also get to the rim using his smooth and well-timed ballhandling skills. He is a quality finisher with both hands and can find holes in the defense to attack and get a good look at the rim.

Da Silva’s post skills grew over his four years at Colorado. He can score down low in various ways, including the post-hook and post-fade, but he can also create for others. From the post and perimeter, da Silva’s playmaking makes him extra dangerous and difficult to guard, as he can place passes perfectly to cutters and deliver perfect pocket passes to shooters. 

When he is in triple-threat position, he does so many things he can do at a high level that it makes it hard for the defender to anticipate. He is also very calm and never tries to rush anything with the ball. This makes him a very effective and reliable passer out of the pick-and-roll, as he never tries to rush the play and will not force it if it is not there.

Without the ball, da Silva stands as an elite cutter. He can see every lane given to him and time his cuts perfectly so as not to disturb the ballhandler or anyone else on the floor trying to get open. Not only is his cutting excellent, but da Silva converts on these cuts at a very high level. He shot 61.4 percent around the rim (via Barttorvik), and although he is not a very explosive athlete, he is a resilient finisher who can take advantage of a late help defender, draw fouls, and convert and-1s.

 

Defense

Da Silva is much less polished on the defensive end than on offense. While his foot speed and size make him capable of guarding multiple positions, his inconsistent commitment level makes it hard to count on him. 

Off the ball, da Silva has a hard time taking his focus off of the ballhandler, which leads to him unintentionally move further and further away from his assignment, leaving them open for a three or with an easy backdoor cut. In transition, it’s the same story. He naturally gravitates toward the ball, so rather than adequately filling the lane, he beelines toward the ballhandler regardless of whether another defender has picked them up and leaves another man wide open for the pass. 

Because he gets so drawn to the ball, da Silva struggles to be reliant as a help defender. He is out of position too often, making it difficult for him to effectively cover any empty ground that has been given up. As effective defensive rotations become increasingly relied upon in today’s NBA due to its guards’ enhanced craftiness and athleticism, he will need to become more disciplined here. 

There is more to like on-ball, as da Silva’s more focused when facing the ballhandler one-on-one. He does a great job of cutting off the lane to the basket with his body and has a strong base that is difficult for the ballhandler to push through, making getting from the perimeter to the hoop very challenging. His strength is also best utilized when guarding the post. While his vertical athleticism will not turn any heads, he does not make it easy for his matchup to get in a comfortable position to put up a shot. 

Looking Ahead

Da Silva will come into the league ready to play legitimate rotation minutes for an NBA team, similar to how Jaime Jaquez Jr. came in last season for the Miami Heat. Offensively, he is like a Swiss Army knife that any team can utilize, as he can fill several roles.  

Da Silva displays shades of Deni Avdija as an offensively versatile forward who can create for others. He can suit almost any roster. Da Silva may fit well for a winning team as an experienced forward who can plug and play into any lineup. A young, rebuilding team would also benefit from his ability to take some pressure off the less experienced players and put more effort into further developing him.  

The downside to da Silva is that he is already 23 years old, so his ceiling may be lower; however, he has a high floor, which can be valuable for a first-round pick joining a team on a four-year contract.