The AJ Johnson thing did not work out. The Milwaukee Bucks selected the 19-year-old G League product 23rd overall in the 2024 draft, barely played him, then shipped him to Washington at the trade deadline for Kyle Kuzma. A year later, the Wizards sent him to Dallas. Johnson hasn’t played much for either team this season.
Unsurprisingly, Bleacher Report’s 2024 re-draft did not have the Bucks going the same route. Instead, they used their pick on current Magic forward Tristan Da Silva. Chosen 18th in reality, he has not quite lived up to his stock as a top 20 pick, leaving him available for Milwaukee.
The Bucks do need forward length – or at least they did before Ousmane Dieng barged in looking like one possible solution – and Da Silva, it’s true, would give them that.
Da Silva is off to a solid, if unspectacular start
The Munich-born, University of Colorado alum has been a decent rotation player on playoff-contending teams. Part of his opportunities have come from Orlando’s incessant injuries, but at 6-foot-8, with a 6-10 wingspan, he offers enough length, defensive effort, and shooting to carve out a role.
As a rookie, Da Silva made 38 starts in 74 games; this year, he has started 14 of 48 appearances. He’s averaging 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game on improved shooting: 36.5% on threes. Da Silva does need to improve his conversion rate on twos; inefficiency inside the arc has his field goal percentage down at 42.7%.
Colorado Buffaloes forward Tristan da Silva (23) celebrates a three-pointer against the Marquette Golden Eagles on Sunday, March 24, 2024, during the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Marquette Golden Eagles defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 81-77.
He does need to make strides in his overall offensive game; defensively, per Cleaning the Glass, he has been a slight positive by on-off rating. Da Silva is more limited at the other end of the floor.
One thing he has done, though, is provide solid minutes and a baseline of production. Johnson, unfortunately, has not. Where the jury is still out is on their respective ceilings. Whereas Johnson is still just 21 and has obvious if undeveloped talent, Da Silva will turn 25 in May, capping his projected upside.
Really, burning a first-round pick on either player is not necessarily a result the Bucks would settle for in hindsight.
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