Tristan

da Silva

With Paolo Banchero already sidelined with a torn oblique muscle, the Magic lost Franz Wagner to the same injury on Saturday. Da Silva moves into the starting lineup but remains a risky streaming play due to his lack of scoring. Also, Anthony Black, Cole Anthony, and even Jett Howard will have more opportunities to produce for the shorthanded Magic.

The team said that he will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be close to returning. This is a devastating injury for Orlando, who has already dealt with the absence of Paolo Banchero due to a torn oblique. Banchero isn’t far from a return, but until he’s back, they’ll have to rely on everyone else to score. Tristan da Silva or Anthony Black may fill the void in the starting unit, but Cole Anthony could also see a larger role due to his shot creation ability.

Bitadze was initially a game-time decision but has been ruled in for Wednesday and will continue to start alongside Wendell Carter Jr. in the frontcourt. Tristan da Silva will return to the bench in the aftermath.

Da Silva was a late addition to the Magic starting lineup, as Goga Bitadze was scratched due to a sprained ankle. While the rookie wasn’t a liability on the court, he didn’t provide much value to fantasy managers. There may be more starts in Da Silva’s future if Bitadze misses more time, but he isn’t worth streaming in most fantasy leagues.

Initially announced as a starter, Bitadze will not play in Tuesday’s NBA Cup Group A decider. His absence pushes da Silva into the starting lineup, with Wendell Carter Jr. as the starting center. Completing the five are Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Franz Wagner. Da Silva does not need to be streamed in most fantasy leagues.

Fresh off the most productive game of his brief NBA career, da Silva struggled against the Mavericks. The rookie made just two shots on the night, a far cry from his 17-point performance in Cleveland. There will be nights like this for da Silva, but Paolo Banchero’s absence ensures he’ll have opportunities to prove himself. He and the Magic play four games in Week 3, beginning with the undefeated Thunder on Monday.

Carter’s return after a one-game absence means Moritz Wagner returns to the bench. The other change is da Silva, who replaces Anthony Black. The first-round pick out of Colorado played well in Friday’s loss to Cleveland, scoring 17 points while accounting for five rebounds, two assists, and three 3-pointers. In this spot, da Silva is worth the risk in deep leagues.

While the Magic could not hand Cleveland its first loss of the season, da Silva’s play was positive. Seeing his first meaningful action as a pro, the first-round pick out of Colorado contributed 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Da Silva has the size and defensive skill set needed to help Orlando, especially with Paolo Banchero (oblique) sidelined, and he showed off his shooting skills on Friday. The rookie isn’t a must-add right now, but adding da Silva to your watch lists would be a good idea.

Da Silva’s availability for Monday’s game gives Orlando another frontcourt option, a welcome development with Jonathan Isaac and Goga Bitadze sidelined. However, he’s unlikely to play the minutes needed to be fantasy-relevant.

da Silva did not play in Saturday’s loss to Memphis, and he isn’t guaranteed rotation minutes when healthy. The rookie’s status will not impact fantasy basketball.